Nairobi Environment and Land Court Judge sitting at Milimani has temporarily suspended President William Ruto’s move to lift the ban on logging that was imposed by the government in 2018.
Justice Oscar Angote further issued conservatory orders suspending any plans by the government to re-introduce Shamba System on government forests, pending the determination of a case filed by Law Society of Kenya.
The LSK moved to court arguing that logging activities have begun in earnest despite not being fully legally appraised of the effect and the impact of harvesting of trees on gazetted forests.
“Pending the hearing and the determination of the application and the suit herein, conservatory orders do issue retraining the Respondents either by themselves or through their agents, servants, employees, proxies or any other person from licensing, permitting, allowing or in any other way exploiting forest resources,” the order issued by the court read.
President Ruto announced the lifting of the ban on July 2 while addressing a gathering at Molo in Nakuru County, saying it was aimed at benefiting the families and persons who live near the forests to enhance their livelihood through the felling, cutting and selling of trees.
“The directives issued have neither provided the scientific reasons, research, policy directives, specific environmental assessment impact, nor the public participation done in the areas likely to be affected by the removal of the ban on logging activities by the state,” the LSK said.
In addition, the Constitution provides that the decisions of the President ought to be in writing, the LSK said adding that the same has not been done, opening a chance for abuse, uncertainty and exploitation however well intended.
