A Narok environmental and land court has declined to halt the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp.
The safari lodge, Marriott’s second in the Maasai Mara and the first Ritz-Carlton in Africa, opened its doors on August 15th.Community activist Dr. Maitamei Olol Dapash had sued the Narok County Government, NEMA, and Marriott International, seeking to halt the opening at the last minute before the lodge’s scheduled opening this week.The court granted Dr. Olol Dapash seven days to serve the respondents, and slated a hearing for 22nd October, but declined to certify the application as urgent.
According to several sources in the Narok hospitality industry who requested anonymity to speak freely, the timing of Dr. Olol Dapash’s suit calls into question his motives in halting the completed project. In court filings, the activist admitted to having first learnt of the project in May, three months before the slated opening date. At least one source also intimated that Dr. Olol Dapash had previously leased the same site to run a camp.
“The Petitioner /Applicant has sought for Certification of the Application as urgent and issuance of Conservatory Orders to restrain the opening of the Safari Camp within Mara Reserve; when was the construction of the Safari Camp began? When was the construction completed?” Lady Justice Lucy N. Gacheru of the Environment and Land Court posed in a ruling on Wednesday, August 13th.
The exclusive luxury camp, where reservation rates start from US$3,500 per person, per night, promises visitors the chance to “connect with the untamed beauty of the Sand River where wildlife gathers during the Great Migration” as well as the chance to explore the Kenya-Tanzania Border Stone that links the Maasai Mara and Serengeti ecosystems.
In recent weeks, Dr. Olol Dapash has questioned the approval process for its construction, initially threatening to seek legal redress after triggering a flurry of letters between himself, the county government, NEMA, and Marriott International.
Three days before the Friday opening, the activist had filed asking the court to certify the matter as urgent. Among the claims in the suit is that the project lacks an environmental impact assessment and relevant approvals, which both Narok County and NEMA have disputed.
According to the government and county officials, the luxury project is part of a shift towards high-value, low-impact tourism projects to lessen the pressure on fragile ecosystems.
“As the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, it is of utmost importance to us that all tourism and hospitality projects meet the necessary ecological and regulatory approvals,” Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said in a welcome letter to Marriott International.