Environment and Lands Court sitting in Nairobi has temporarily suspended President William Ruto's directive that lifted a countrywide ban on logging.
Justice Angote noted that the application that was filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) was duly merited and certified as urgent by the Court.
Consequently, Justice Angote asked the Respondents, including Attorney General and five other interested parties to file their responses within five days.
“Orders are granted staying the Government directive on the revocation of the Gazette Notices previously issued for de-gazettement of Forest areas/designating areas as Forests and the and re-introduction of the Shamba System.
"The Petitioner, which in this case is the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has leave to file a Further Affidavit within 3 days of service," Justice Angote ordered.
Further, the Judge ordered that the application be heard inter partes virtually on Monday, August 14, at 10 am, when the court will review the orders and give directions.
In what would be seen as the first victory for the Law Society of Kenya, Justice Angote granted three prayers that the Lawyers' body had sought, including blocking the implementation of President Ruto's orders on logging.
Ruto announced on Sunday, July 2, 2023, that he was lifting the ban on logging that had been in place since 2018. The ban was put in place to protect Kenya's forests from illegal logging and to help the country meet its climate change goals.
However, Ruto noted that the ban had led to job losses and economic hardship in some parts of the country, and that lifting it would help to create jobs and boost the economy.
The decision to lift the ban has been met with mixed reactions. Environmentalists have expressed concern that it will lead to increased deforestation and damage to Kenya's forests.
However, the government argued that it will put in place strict measures to ensure that only mature trees are harvested and that new trees are planted to replace those that are cut down.
"Only mature trees will be harvested, and new trees will be planted to replace those that are cut down. Forests can be managed sustainably to provide both economic benefits and environmental protection," Ruto stated.
However, conservationists claimed that lifting the ban will lead to increased deforestation and damage to Kenya's forests. They stated that forests play an important role in regulating the climate and providing water for people and wildlife.
Law Society of Kenya, in particular, argued that logging can be difficult to regulate, and there is a risk of illegal logging.
“The government has indicated its push and commitment targeting to plant 15 billion trees over the next seven years to restore 10.6 million hectares (26.2 million acres) of degraded land and enlarge forest cover to 30 per cent.
"This is after the region was hit by its worst drought in four decades last year. Previously, the Head of State has been involved in tree planting campaigns, that now seem mere political rhetoric as with the recent pronouncements on the logging,” reads court papers.
