The Mountain Journal
Controversy surrounding human wildlife conflict in Umande ward, Laikipia County has taken a new twist, after private developers moved to the environment tribunal to stop the putting up of an electric fence along Timau river.
In the suit before the tribunal, the 10 developers among them businessmen and a local, establish tourists hotels along Timau river and seek to stop putting up of the fence on the grounds that with disrupt wildlife migratory corridor and interfere with elephants and leopards breeding grounds.
The fence supported by the community in the villages of Nginyii, Timau Farmers and Muramati follows the two decades of destruction of the maize, cabbages and tomatoes by the elephants.
The petitioners under the LollDaiga Southern border land group, retired Maj General Antony Maritim Rob, Aadil Vaian, Carol Muhia, Ashminder Kaur, Thomas Donald White, Dr Hilde Van Leuwee, Abdi Dara, Nicholas Sadron and Susan Weeks.
They are against NEMA, Lolldaiga Valley PLC and Lolldaiga Hills Limited, with Kenya Forest service and KWS named as interested parties
Yesterday, the petition was mentioned before tribunal members led by its chairman Emmanuel Mumia who declared the matter urgent based on the grounds raised by the petitioners.
“The notice of motion dated October 24,2024 shall be heard interpartes on November 15,” ruled the tribunal chairman.
The petitioners were directed to serve the respondents NEMA, Lolldaiga Valley PLC and Lolldaiga Hills Limited not later than November 1,2024.
While the respondents and the interested parties are directed to file and serve their responses not later than November 8, 2024.
The petitioners argue that establishment of the fence will block the wildlife and small animals from accessing the artificial and watering sites and destruction of riparian land covering over 80 acres.
Other members in the environmental tribunal are Vice Chairperson Winnie Tsuma, Duncan Kuria, Ronald Allamano, and David Njuguna Njoroge.
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