Parts of the eco-hotel being constructed in Ngong Forest near the sanctuary block. [File]
The Environment and Lands Court has temporarily stopped the construction of a road through Ngong Road Forest and a controversial eco-lodge project within the forest dealing a major setback to infrastructure works linked to Talanta Sports City.
In orders issued by Justice Grace Kemei, the court directed that all excavation, tree felling, land clearance and construction works at the proposed eco-lodge site in the Sanctuary Block of Ngong Road Forest and along the Bomas-Talanta road corridor be stopped until the case is heard and determined.
The orders came from a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Green Belt Movement and public interest litigation group JustAct, stopping the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Forest Service and private developer Konyon Company Limited from further construction works in the forest.
The petitioners also listed the Attorney General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Kenya Railways Corporation as respondents in the matter.
“A conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying and restraining the respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, employees, contractors or any person acting under their authority, from any further excavation, tree-felling, land clearance, or construction works of any kind at the eco-lodge site operated by Konyon Company within the Sanctuary Block of Ngong Road Forest, and the Bomas-Talanta road corridor within Ngong Road Forest,” Justice Kemei ruled.
The court decision comes amid mounting public outrage over continued encroachment and destruction of one of Nairobi’s remaining indigenous urban fortes, threatening biodiversity, wildlife movement, water catchment and climate resilience.
The court also stopped the respondents from removing the Sanctuary Block electric fence.