Kenyan Court Halts Controversial Lodge, Airstrip, And Golf Course Proposal In Vital Elephant Refuge And Nursery

A protected forest that serves as a vital refuge and nursery for elephants and countless other species has become the focus of a growing legal battle in Kenya.

Plans to carve a state lodge, airstrip, and golf course into the protected Upper Imenti Forest near Mount Kenya have sparked widespread concern among conservationists, who warn the project threatens one of the country’s most important wildlife habitats and water catchment areas.

Kenya’s Environment and Land Court has extended conservatory orders that temporarily halt the controversial project while legal proceedings continue.

According to conservation organizations challenging the project, the proposed development proceeded without a finalized Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approved by Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and without meaningful public participation. Those concerns now lie at the heart of the ongoing legal challenge.

The case was brought by Francis Awino, who argues the proposed development threatens the protected Upper Imenti Forest. Several conservation organizations, including The Green Belt Movement, have also publicly opposed the project and called for the forest’s protection. 

A public participation forum organized by the Kenya Forest Service was also suspended after petitioners argued that local communities had been given only 24 hours’ notice, preventing meaningful public participation.

Conservation organizations have also alleged that clearing activities continued despite earlier court orders. Those claims remain part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Conservationists say Upper Imenti Forest serves as an irreplaceable dry season refuge and nursery where mother elephants raise their newborn calves while relying on the forest’s food, water, and shelter. The forest also serves as a critical wildlife corridor, allowing elephants to move safely across the greater Mount Kenya landscape while helping reduce human-elephant conflict.

Beyond its importance for wildlife, Upper Imenti Forest is one of Kenya’s most significant water catchment areas, helping sustain the Tana and Ewaso Ng’iro river systems that support millions of people, agriculture, and countless wild animals.

For conservationists, the stakes extend far beyond a single development proposal. They say the outcome of this case could help determine the future of Upper Imenti Forest and set an important precedent for protecting Kenya’s wildlife, forests, and natural heritage for generations to come.