Green Belt Movement Condemns Court Ruling Allowing Mau Mau Road Through Aberdare Forest

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) has expressed disappointment over a court ruling allowing the construction of the proposed Mau Mau Road through the Aberdare Forest ecosystem, warning that the project could have lasting environmental consequences.

In a statement issued following the judgment, the environmental organization said it respects the independence of the judiciary but strongly disagrees with the decision, arguing that it does not adequately uphold the Constitution’s obligation to protect Kenya’s natural heritage.

GBM rejected the notion that the case presents a choice between conservation and development, saying the two objectives should go hand in hand under the principle of sustainable development enshrined in the Constitution.

“The question has never been whether Kenya should develop. The question has always been whether development should come at the irreversible expense of nationally protected ecosystems,” the organization said.

The movement described the Aberdare ecosystem as one of Kenya’s most critical water towers, noting that it supplies water to millions of people, supports agriculture, generates hydroelectric power, regulates the climate, and provides habitat for wildlife. It warned that any degradation of the ecosystem could have significant long-term economic, environmental, and social impacts.

GBM maintained that Kenya’s infrastructure needs can be met without encroaching on protected forests and national parks, arguing that less environmentally damaging alternatives should be prioritized.

The organization also raised concerns about what it described as an emerging trend in environmental litigation, claiming that public interest cases seeking to protect forests, water towers, and other ecologically sensitive areas are increasingly facing challenges before the Environment and Land Court.

According to GBM, this trend risks weakening public confidence in environmental justice and could undermine Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to a clean and healthy environment.

The movement emphasized that environmental litigation is intended to ensure development projects comply with the Constitution, scientific evidence, and the public interest, rather than to obstruct economic progress.

Despite the ruling, GBM said it will continue pursuing lawful and peaceful efforts to protect Kenya’s forests, biodiversity, and water towers by engaging the courts, policymakers, local communities, and development partners.

Quoting its founder, the late Professor Wangari Maathai, the organization reiterated that “the environment is not an inheritance from our ancestors but a trust held for future generations.”

The movement also called on government agencies implementing the road project to strictly adhere to all environmental safeguards ordered by the court and urged Kenyans to remain vigilant in protecting the country’s natural heritage.