Activists oppose proposed amendment to conservation law
Civil society groups have warned that it is a dangerous legal pathway designed to bypass court-ordered protections...
✨ Key Highlights
Environmental activists and civil society groups are strongly opposing a proposed amendment to Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016. They argue the changes could permit infrastructure and commercial developments within protected public forests.
- The proposed amendment seeks to grant the Kenya Forest Service powers to approve easements for roads, utilities, and infrastructure projects within public forests.
- Key organizations like the Green Belt Movement (GBM) have condemned the proposal as a "dangerous legal pathway" that could lead to encroachment and destruction of forests.
- Recent legal battles, such as the one to prevent the expansion of Kiambu Road into Karura Forest, highlight concerns about preserving sensitive ecosystems from development.
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NEMA Arrests 13 Business Proprietors Without Environmental Licences - May 2026
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested 13 proprietors in Kitui County for operating businesses, including hotels, hospitals, and petrol stations, without the mandatory environmental licences. Environmental activists and civil society groups are simultaneously strongly opposing a proposed amendment to Kenya's Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, arguing the changes could permit infrastructure and commercial developments within protected public forests. Meanwhile, the government has extended operating hours at 20 select Huduma Centres across the country to 7 am to 7 pm to improve service delivery and reduce congestion.
