Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
Laikipia fire that British Soldiers were accused of setting off. /COURTESY

Kenya

Climate lobby group to petition House of Commons over enforcement of Laikipia fire court order

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18 – An environment lobby group will now be travelling to London, United Kingdom next month to present a protest petition to the House of Commons over the enforcement of the Laikipia Fire Court order.

The African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA) and  Lolldaiga community now lament that the Kenyan government has frustrated their attempts to get justice despite court orders.

The two petitioners claim that no Inter-Governmental Liaison Committee, has been formed by Kenya and United Kingdom to look into the matter.

“We have done countless requests to attorney general, Ulinzi House and British High commission. We are calling on all Kenyans and UK citizens to condemn this attempt to defeat justice. Already we have lost countless petitioners some from complications of fire,” stated ACCPA Chair Mwangi Macharia.

On March 10th 2022, the High Court referred the matter to the Inter-Governmental Liaison Committee, which as per the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), is tasked with solving civil disputes between the community and the UK army.

The community and the NGO (petitioners) had accuse the UK military of starting a fire during training at the Lolldaiga Conservancy on March 25, last year.

“Without immediate intervening actions to caution and mitigate the affected community from continued effects of the fire and environmental degradation, this delay is a disregard of their dignity and inherent human rights,” he stated.

“We call upon relevant institutions both within and in UK, to comply with the orders on a timely manner to the relief of the affected persons,” said Kevin Kubai, the petitioners lawyer.

In the suit, the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) together with the Lolldaiga Hills Ltd have been embroiled in a dispute with 1,496 residents of the Lolldaiga community in Nanyuki and the African Corrective and Preventive Action, an environmental NGO.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“The area continues to become a hot bed of human-animal conflicts and healh related issues which sabotage their economic and financial position amidst a global pandemic and rising cost of living,” stated Kubai.

In the matter, the petitioners say that the fire ravaged more than 10,000 acres of land, causing damage to plants, animals and affecting the communities living near the ranch.

As a result, wildlife at the 49,000-acre conservancy escaped into people’s farms destroying produce.

The inferno also emitted smoke that contained dangerous chemicals, causing adverse health effects in both people and livestock.

About The Author

Advertisement

More on Capital News

EDUCATION

Kipsang urged Parliament to increase the blocked figure from Sh65 billion, to match the Sh22,224 capitation requirement per student for 4.2 million students in...

NATIONAL NEWS

The weather agency listed Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Nairobi, Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Narok among counties...

NATIONAL NEWS

The announcement is a culmination of a year-long push by the government to have creators earn for their online content.

NATIONAL NEWS

Kindiki underscored the urgency of a nationwide crackdown on the production, distribution, sale, and consumption of illicit liquor, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances.

NATIONAL NEWS

NAROK, Kenya, Mar 17 – The government is taking robust measures to eradicate poverty in the country, President William Ruto has said. He said...

NATIONAL NEWS

In the recent past, the county has faced increased insecurity which has led to loss of lives and properties following a spate of banditry...

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 17 – Radio and TV have remained the two top giants in media consumption, despite the rapidly evolving competition from social...

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 17 – The government has flagged off 10 vehicles that will speed up the spotting of illegal mining operations across the...