In a recent development, the Environment Court has extended the ban on logging after facing legal opposition from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), challenging President William Ruto’s decision to lift the ban imposed by the previous administration in 2018.
The legal battle unfolded when LSK contested the lifting of the moratorium in July 2023, prompting the court to impose a temporary freeze. The Environment Court’s ruling highlighted that the decision to lift the ban lacked transparency, as it was made without the necessary disclosure of information and public participation.
Justice Oscar Angote, presiding over the case, not only extended the ban but also prohibited the government from issuing logging licenses, except for a limited 5,000 acres containing matured trees. Ruto, who advocated for lifting the ban, argued that it had adversely affected Kenya’s economy, especially in regions where logging was a primary livelihood activity.
Ruto defended his decision, stating that it aimed to boost employment opportunities for the youth and stimulate business growth by opening up the forest for timber harvesting. He reassured the public that the move would not harm the country’s water catchment areas, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to planting 15 billion trees within a decade.
Despite the government’s claim of having 26,000 hectares of mature and over-mature forest plantations, Justice Angote restricted tree felling to just 5,000 acres. LSK contended before the Environment Court that there was insufficient scientific evidence or research justifying the lifting of the ban. Additionally, the organization argued that there was a lack of specific environmental impact assessments or public participation procedures leading to the moratorium’s removal.
The initial imposition of the ban in 2018 had been intended to help Kenya meet its climate change goals. Remarkably, during the ban period, Kenya experienced a significant increase in forest cover, rising from 5.9 percent in 2018 to 8.83 percent in 2022.
This ruling stands as a pivotal moment in Kenya’s environmental conservation efforts, underscoring the importance of transparent decision-making and public involvement in shaping policies that affect the nation’s natural resources.
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