By Ben Leshau
A three-judge bench adjourned the Maasai Mau Forest eviction case to April 12,
2021 due to concerns over surge of Covid 19 cases.
Justices Mohammed Kullow, John Mutungi and George Ongondo sitting at the
Environment and Lands Court in Narok County made the decision after the lawyer
representing evicted families made a request.
Lawyer Kimutai Bosek requested for the adjournment and the case will now
be heard from April 12th to 16th.
Lawyer Hassan Kamwaro who was representing the Friends of Mau, an interested
party opposed the adjournment -saying the Covid-19 was being used by the
petitioners as an excuse to derail the case.
However, State Counsel Mary Muigai concurred
with with Bosek saying the concerns were genuine and that there was no urgency,”
said Ms Muigai.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga appointed the three-judge bench after over
30,000 evictees moved to court to sue state over what they termed as illegal
forceful eviction from their farms in September 2019.