Court blocks GDC from carrying out exploration and drilling activities in Menengai West

The Environment and Lands Court have issued orders temporarily stopping Geothermal Development Company (GDC) from continuing with its geothermal exploration and drilling activities under Phase 2 pending hearing and determination of a case filed before it.

The orders followed a case that was filed by an environmental conservation group, Baboon Project Kenya, petitioned the court to suspend or revoke the company’s licenses to run certain geothermal projects over environmental pollution.

“Interim orders of injunction be and are hereby issued pending the interprets hearing of the application,” ordered the judge.

Baboon project in its application had requested the court to issue temporary injunction restraining the GDC and its agents from the continued geothermal exploration, construction, drilling or any related activity under phase 2 of the Menengai project on community and private lands on Menengai west in Nakuru county.

The lobby group has alleged failure by both GDC and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to safeguard the environment as mandated by the law.

The matter first came up in court on December 2, 2025. In their petition the group argued that the continuous activities at the Menengai field, primarily steam venting and drilling operations, generate excessive noise and vibration pollution, causing irreversible environmental damage and violating the fundamental rights of the community and wildlife, including baboons, in the surrounding area.

They claim that the GDC’s operations and NEMA’s oversight have contravened various laws and regulations.

“They have contravened laws that guarantee the right to a clean and healthy environment; additionally, they have failed to conduct proper environmental baseline studies and biodiversity assessments. There has been direct breach of specific regulations designed to govern noise levels,” read the petition in part.

GDC and NEMA have been sued as respondents

The court ordered the petitioners to serve the respondents with the case.

The matter will be mentioned on February 5, 2026, for further directions.