Fencing of Kaptagat Forest to proceed, land court directs
The Environment and Land Court in Iten, Kenya, has lifted a temporary order that halted the fencing of the Kaptagat Forest. The Kenya Forest Service may now proceed with the project, though legal challenges regarding public participation and environmental assessments remain ongoing.
Why it matters
The case reflects the conflict between environmental conservation efforts and the rights of local communities to participate in land management decisions.
Fencing of Kaptagat Forest will proceed after the conservation exercise was temporarily halted by a court order last week. The Environment and Land Court in Iten had slammed the brakes on the fencing exercise pending application by five individuals opposing the project to stop its implementation. But on Thursday Justice Boaz Olao lifted the orders issued on July 15, restraining the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and their agents from fencing the ecosystem. Olao had directed KFS to halt fencing in all the forest's blocks including Kaptagat , Sabor, Penon, Kessup and Kipkabus. Upon hearing both parties in the application filed by Gilbert Cheruiyot, Martin Kipkoech and three others seeking to stop the fencing of Kaptagat Forest, the court lifted the orders, paving the way for implementation of the project which had kicked off on May 11.
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