News
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
State might rethink move on
forests, court told
By NATION Reporter
The government is
considering revoking a decision to excise parts of key forest land
countrywide, a court heard yesterday.
State lawyer Muthoni
Kimani said consultations were going on over the government
decision to alter boundaries involving 175, 000 acres.
She told Chief Justice
Evans Gicheru she needed more time to get further instructions
from the Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Gideon Gathara.
The case brought by
three NGOs was expected to start before two judges yesterday, but
was mentioned before the CJ for directions.
The government announced
in a Kenya Gazette notice of October 10, 2001 that it
intended to excise parts of Kapsaret, Nabkoi, Eastern Mau, South
Nandi, Mr Lodiani, Molo, Northern Tinderet, Mt Kenya, Marmanet and
Western Mau forests.
But the Kenya Alliance
of Residents Associations, the East African Wildlife Society, the
Environment Liaison Centre, Mr Lumumba Odenda and Mr James Akim
went to court to block the move.
Mr Justice Richard
Kuloba issued temporary orders stopping the minister for
Environment from interfering with the current forest boundaries.
The orders were also
directed at the Commissioner of Lands, the Chief Lands Registrar,
the Principal Registrar of Titles and the Directors of Physical
Planning and Survey.
Lawyer Stephen Mwenesi,
for the applicants, argued that any boundary alterations would
affect crucial water catchment areas. The case will be mentioned
on May 8.
Link : http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/25032003/News/News5.html
|
