The Environmental Case Law Index is a collection of judgments from 10 African countries on topics relating to environmental law, both substantive and procedural. The collection focuses on cases where an environmental interest interacts with governmental or private interests.
Get started on finding judgments that are relevant to you by browsing the topic list on the left of the screen. Click the arrows next to the topic names to reveal a detailed list of sub-topics. Most judgments are accompanied by a short summary written by subject-area expert postgraduate students from the University of Cape Town.
Read also JIFA's Environmental Country Reports for SADC
Chevron (K) Ltd v Harrison Charo Wa Shutu [2016] eKLR (Civil Appeal 17 of 2016); (14 October 2016); 
Judicial Review Appeals and reviews Civil Procedure Declaratory Relief Civil Remedies Private prosecutions Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law African customary law and rights of indigenous peoples Human and environmental rights Environmental law EL IndexThe court considered an appeal against a decision in the Environment and Land court, declaring that the respondent had trespassed on the applicant’s premises and that the respondent be ordered to vacate the area and demolish and structures it had erected.
The respondent alleged that it had settled in the area 45 years prior and had inherited the land from his father.
The appellant alleged it had purchased the property in 1994 but had not occupied or used the land. The lower court held that by the time the action was brought in 2008 there was evidence that the respondent had been in occupation for a period of time that would entitle him to raise the defense of limitation, and after the expiration of over 12 years, the appellant was precluded from bringing an action to recover the premises.
The question was whether the respondent had been in possession of the premises for over 12 years as at the time the suit to evict him was instituted in 2008, and whether his possession was averse to that of the appellant?
The court held that the relevant period would be between 1994, the date of registration of the appellant as the proprietor, and 2008, when the suit was filed. It held that the period translated to 14 years which meant the respondent could legitimately base his claim and dealt with the premises as if it was exclusively his. Thus dispossessing the appellant of its right to the land.
Appeal dismissed
African Centre for Rights And Governance (ACRAG) &3 others v Municipal Council of Naivasha [2017] eKLR (Petition 50 of 2012); (31 May 2017); EL Index Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Pollution and waste management offences Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Declaratory Relief Civil Remedies Healthy environment Substantive rights Human Rights Environmental duties Concepts and principles Environmental lawMartipei Parmaya v Republic [2017] eKLR (Criminal Appeal 126 of 2017); (11 December 2017); Offences in relation to indigenous species Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Animal welfare and rights Flora and fauna Environmental law Wildlife (fauna) Flora and fauna Environmental law EL IndexThe matter was an appeal from a conviction on the charge of being found in possession of wildlife trophies in contravention of s95 and 92 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013 (“Act”).
The appellant argued that the trial court overlooked the inconsistencies and contradictions in evidence and applied the doctrine constructive possession of the wildlife trophies erroneously.
The court established that evidence must be led to prove the fact of possession and the contradiction in witnesses’ testimonies put the question of possession in doubt. Court also found that the doctrine of recent possession was erroneously applied.
The court considered s92 and established that it does not create an offence in so far as offences in respect of endangered species or their trophies are concerned but only a punishment and as such the suspect could not be tried under it. Further, that the proper provision that created an offence in respect to wildlife trophies and trophies generally was s95 and that suspects should be charged under the same until the Act is amended.
The conviction was quashed and the appeal was allowed on account of failure of the prosecution to prove the case to the required standard.
Endere v Karen Roses Ltd (2006) 1 eKLR (E&L) (Civil Case 298 of 2005); (31 March 2006); EL Index Injunction Injuctions and interdicts Civil Remedies Environmental damages Environmental remedies Pollution and waste management offences Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Healthy environment Substantive rights Human Rights Environmental impact and risk assessment Environmental decision-making Environmental lawKenya Ports Authority v East African Power & Lighting Company Ltd [1982] eKLR (Civil Appeal 41 of 1981); (09 March 1982); Precautionary and preventive principles Concepts and principles Environmental law Pollution and waste management offences Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Minerals, oil and gas Minerals and energy Environmental law Marine pollution Waste and pollution Environmental law Environmental damages Environmental remedies EL IndexThe court considered an appeal, whereby the plaintiff was claiming pecuniary damages incurred for cleaning up an oil leak into the harbour, for which the defendant was allegedly responsible.
The defence pleaded that the suit was misconceived and that the alleged loss and damage were not recoverable in law. Further, that the plaintiff disclosed no cause of action and that the case ought to be dismissed. The plaintiff relied on two causes of action, the first in negligence and the second, in terms of the strict liability rule.
The high court held that the only damage proved to have been caused by the oil leak was to the sea water surrounding the harbour, and that the plaintiff did not own that water. Thus, the plaintiff had not suffered any damage to its property and further that in bringing oil to its land in the port area, the defendant was not making a non-natural use of the land.
On appeal, the court held that the plaintiff suffered no actual damage to any of its property as water was not the property of the plaintiff, and pecuniary loss arising out of purely precautionary measures taken to clean up pollution, which might cause damage to property, is not recoverable at common law. It held that the storage of oil on land by a person licensed to generate electricity there, the oil being essential for the production of electricity, did not amount to a non-natural user of the land.
Appeal dismissed.
Elizabeth Kurer and Detlef Heir (Suing on their behalf and on behalf of aggrieved residents of Watamu within Kilifi County) v County Government of Kilifi & 4 others [2018] eKLR (Petition 23 of 2016); (19 April 2018); Frivolous, vexatious, nuisance proceedings Conduct of proceedings Civil Procedure Role of state in relation to environment Actors in environmental law Environmental law Pollution and waste management offences Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Public interest in environment Environmental decision-making Environmental law Access to environmental information Human and environmental rights Environmental law Healthy environment Substantive rights Human Rights EL IndexThe petitioners in this matter contented that since 1998, the fourth and fifth respondents had played excessively loud music at night thus causing the petitioners and other residents sleepless nights. The respondents operated an entertainment spot located near a residential area and learning institutions and whose main entertainment menu was the playing of very loud music. The petitioners alleged that the noise interfered with their peace and quiet enjoyment of their properties and violated their right to a clean and healthy environment.
In order to prove that the noise and vibration levels from the respondent’s restaurant were excessive, the petitioners used self-made instruments that were not approved by a relevant lead agency or any person appointed by the National Environmental Management Authority.
This was against the requirements of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. Therefore, the petition had to fall, although the learned Judge noted that the petitioners had a noble claim.
Dabaso Saro Dulacha & 3 others v Republic[2018] eKLR (Criminal Appeals 33,34,35 & 37 of 2016); (14 May 2018); Administrative Action Administrative Law Private prosecutions Criminal offences in environmental law Environmental law Wildlife (fauna) Flora and fauna Environmental law EL IndexThe court considered a petition whereby the petitioner sought an order of certiorari to quash a Gazette Notice declaring his land to be forest land. The petitioner had entered into a sale agreement with the original owner of the land by which the parties agreed to a down payment upon successful application to the land control board. The Petitioner took immediate possession and contracted to pay the balance of the purchase price after the maize season. The application was made and rejected due to the Ministry of Natural Resource’s interest in the land. Subsequently, the land control board met and the petitioner’s application was granted, however, the land was transferred to the government and marked a forest.
The petitioner argued that during the dispute, its members were harassed and evicted from their farms, with their houses being torched.
The court found that there was no doubt that the petitioner had entered into a sale agreement. Further, the control board acted in a manner to deny the petitioner the land. The court found that based on a letter received from the Commissioner of Land, there was a clear acknowledgment of foul play in the manner in which the government came to buy the land. Further, the government had deprived the petitioner of its right to land and subjected its members to poverty. In conclusion, the court held that the land was to be placed in the name of the petitioner as it was the rightful and lawful owner.
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