This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On November 7, 2019, the Environment and Lands Court ruled in favor of Josephat Shikoro Shijenje, a trader who had been granted a license by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to construct a Sh100 million fuelling station in Kakamega County.
The court, presided over by Judge Nelly Matheka, directed the county government to follow up the matter with Nema officials, who had issued the license, after finding that the trader had obtained necessary approval from all government agencies.
The county government, through former Lands and Housing Executive Suleiman Sumba, had lodged a petition against Shijenje, claiming that the fuel station posed a serious security threat to nearby residents.
However, the court held that the petitioner failed to enjoin Nema in the proceedings, which would have shed more light as environmental experts, and noted that Nema has powers to revoke a license in case of falsehood or non-compliance with terms.
