Meru High Court suspends Imenti Forest State Lodge, airstrip and golf course plans

On 30 July 2026 the Meru High Court issued conservatory orders halting the construction of a State Lodge, airstrip and golf course inside the protected Imenti Forest, a vital water‑catchment area in Kenya. Justice Oguttu Mboya applied the precautionary principle, noting the absence of required environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies and public participation, and ordered that no further work proceed until five consolidated petitions are heard.

The petitions were filed by activist Francis Awino, the East African Wildlife Society, the Green Belt Movement, JustAct and the Meru Forest Conservation Forum, challenging the legality of the project under the 2025 amendment to the Forest Conservation and Management Act. A hearing on the consolidated cases is scheduled for 28 September 2026. Kenya Kwanza government officials, including Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi, said they will respect the court’s decision, while also expressing confidence that the project may eventually be approved. Earlier public‑participation meetings were disrupted by local residents, highlighting community opposition.