President William Ruto has issued a stern warning regarding Kenya's continued membership in the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), contingent upon the court's decision on the contentious caveat on Mau Forest.
Addressing a gathering in Kuresoi, Ruto emphasized that the court must lift the restriction by December 2024, or Kenya will withdraw from the EACJ.
Ruto highlighted the adverse effects the caveat has had on local residents, stating that it has effectively turned them into squatters on their own land.
He mentioned that while Kenya has already lifted part of the restriction covering nearly 10,000 acres, the Arusha-based court has been slow to act.
“There is a court in Arusha. They have been taking me in circles, but I have told them that they have two options: either they lift the caveat or we withdraw membership from that court,” Ruto declared.
He reassured Kuresoi residents that if the issue remains unresolved by the end of the year, he will take formal steps to withdraw Kenya from the regional court.
Ruto defended his stance by emphasizing the rights of citizens, stating, “It is not acceptable that citizens are living as squatters through no fault of their own and because of a court that does not respect their rights.”
He clarified that his decision should not be seen as a rejection of the rule of law, but rather a response to the suffering of Kenyan citizens caused by the court’s inaction.
The caveat in question dates back to 2001 when it was imposed to control human settlement schemes in the expanding regions of Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, Njoro, and Molo, covering a total of 35,301 hectares of the Eastern Mau Forest.
In 2023, Kenya lifted a part of this two-decade-old restriction on approximately 10,000 acres of the Mau Forest.
President Ruto’s ultimatum to the EACJ underscores his administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing land issues and ensuring the rights of Kenyan citizens are upheld.
His remarks have set the stage for a potential showdown with the regional court, highlighting the broader tensions between national sovereignty and regional judicial authority.
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