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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 23969, member: 2262"] Court Orders Closure of Illegal Conservancies in Isiolo County. Isiolo, Kenya—The High Court in Isiolo has shut down several illegal conservancies and banned their operators from evicting residents to create them. Justice Oscar Angote canceled licenses given to community groups running the Cherab and Bulesa Bilingo conservancies in Merti Sub-County. The order applies to all unlawful conservancies in Isiolo County. Residents of Chari and Cherab wards had sued the conservancies. They said the conservancies were set up on unregistered community land without locals' approval. The conservancies threatened to take away grazing lands and make residents homeless. The community also faced losing important cultural sites like the Kura Dissan Owwo graveyard. The court heard that the conservationists used rangers and local officials to intimidate community leaders who opposed their plans, violating the community's rights to security and human dignity. Justice Angote permanently banned the conservancy owners from entering, mapping, or carrying out any activities on community land in Isiolo County. He also prohibited them from making agreements without involving residents. The judge ordered the Isiolo County government to manage the unregistered community lands. He tasked the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) with handling all conservation activities in the county. The residents had sued to protect their indigenous, pastoralist, and community land rights under the Constitution. They argued that establishing conservancies before registering community land was premature. Justice Angote said the KWS is mandated by law to provide security and advice on wildlife conservation and setting up conservancies. However, residents accused the KWS of allowing the Northern Rangelands Trust to take over this role despite community objections. The trust planned to establish more conservancies in Isiolo County. The court's decision aims to safeguard community land rights and ensure proper procedures are followed. [/QUOTE]

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