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Kenya’s environment court said on Thursday it will consider a case challenging the operation of a luxury safari camp Maasai Mara The reserve claims it is violating the annual wildebeest migration corridor.
The decision came after a local conservationist, who had initially filed the lawsuit, moved to withdraw it. The court rejected the withdrawal motion and said it would take up the matter again on February 10 and decide how to proceed.
The case was filed in August following local and international condemnation over claims that the location of the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Camp was deterring the annual wildlife migration, which attracts thousands of tourists from around the world.
The luxury camp, operated by Marriott International, is expected to be one of Kenya’s most expensive destinations, charging guests up to $3,500 per night.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to several other luxury camps that offer tourists the opportunity to stay up close to the wild animals during their annual migration to the neighboring Serengeti National Park. tanzania,
Environment and Land Court Judge Lucy Gacheru said that although the law allows a petitioner to withdraw a case, it is at the discretion of the judiciary whether or not the case should be dismissed and that in this instance, the serious environmental impact issues raised were of significant public interest.
Joel Meitamei Olol Dapash, a Kenyan conservationist, filed a withdrawal motion on Wednesday, saying his concerns had been addressed after consultation with the parties involved.
However, the project developers, Lazizi Mara Limited, asked the court to reject the withdrawal, saying that despite compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements, the developer was negatively portrayed and should be allowed a fair trial in a court of law.