The High Court in Eldoret has halted construction of a Sh100 million administrative block in Uasin Gishu County, ruling that the project violated public participation requirements under the constitution.
Justice Antony Obwayo of the Lands and Environment Court ordered an immediate stop to the development at Cheptiret market, citing the county government's failure to engage residents before initiating the project. The court emphasized that constitutional mandates for community consultation were not followed.
Residents, represented by lawyer Stanley Kagunza, argued the project proceeded without their input. A contractor had already begun work on the site, but the court's intervention halted progress pending further review.
Kimutai Kirui, chairman of the resident advocacy group, stated in legal filings that adherence to public participation laws is essential for infrastructure projects. The case underscores tensions between local governance and community rights in land development initiatives.
