Koroga Festival will be held in Hell’s Gate on Friday and Saturday, a fan-filled Valentine’s weekend.
NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 12 – The Environment Court has dismissed a case by activist Paula Kahumbu who wanted to stop Koroga Festival set for this weekend at Hell’s Gate, Naivasha.
The Environment Court sitting in Nakuru Wednesday ruled that Kahumbu’s case is “baseless”, and ordered that Capital FM and other organizers proceed with the mega cultural entertainment event that will be graced by renown musicians led by Diamond Platnumz, Hart The Band and Mike Rua.
The court in its ruling struck out Kahumbu’s petition in its entirety because “it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the petition at first instance.”
The court can only entertain appeals from the Tribunal where such petitions are to filed.
The court also appreciated the respondents submissions that the petitioner is an “amorphous group with no authority to sue”.
The petitioners had described themselves as an NGO in the application and a Limited Company in their petition.
The court went ahead to state that even if it were to be satisfied in admitting the petition for hearing, it would have still dismissed it, as it was characterized with mere allegations and unfounded fears.
Further, the court ruled that the statements made by the petitioners were substantiated, and “ultimately, the petition lacked basis”.
Organizers of the event were ordered to proceed with Koroga Festival, since they already have approval from the Kenya Wildlife Service and other relevant permits.
In her suit, Kahumbu had argued that the event will disrupt a major ecosystem for the Ruppel Vultures and wanted the event relocated, but the court disagreed with her, saying she had no case.
Kahumbu has been running a negative social media campaign against Koroga, mobilizing Kenyans to support her. Kahumbu’s campaign was dismissed with a section of Kenyan online labeling her an attention-seeker out to please donors.
All is now set for the 29th Edition of Koroga Festival at Hells Gate on Friday and Saturday, a fun-filled Valentines’ weekend.
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