Petitioners in Mandera military base and airport project withdraw case

A high-stakes legal battle over the proposed Karo military camp and airport project in Mandera came to an abrupt end after petitioners withdrew the case moments before a Tribunal ruling.

The case, filed before the Land Acquisition Tribunal as TRLAP E012 of 2026, had challenged the compulsory acquisition of L.R No. 33285, land claimed by members of the Murule community.

In a surprising turn of events, Advocate Ochieng Ochola, representing the petitioners, rose in court just as the Tribunal Chairperson, Dr Nabil Orina, was about to deliver the ruling and formally notified the court of a Notice of Withdrawal.

The withdrawal effectively halted proceedings in a case that had drawn significant attention due to its implications for a major government-backed security and infrastructure project involving the establishment of a military camp, training facility, and related aviation infrastructure in Mandera East.

No Objection, No Costs

Lawyers representing the respondents—including the National Land Commission, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Lands, the County Government of Mandera, and the Attorney General—did not oppose the withdrawal. However, they raised the issue of legal costs.

In his ruling, the Tribunal Chairperson marked the matter as fully withdrawn and declined to award costs to any party, bringing the dispute to a procedural close.

The petitioners had argued that the land reservation, effected through a February 2026 Gazette Notice, did not meet constitutional requirements on community land, citing alleged lack of consultation and due process in compulsory acquisition.

Court documents indicate that the applicants had sought urgent orders to stop ongoing activities on the land, including reported entry by military personnel and construction works, stating that these actions threatened pastoralist livelihoods dependent on the land.

Two weeks ago, a group of leaders from Mandera, speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, opposed the government’s decision to reserve more than 10,000 acres of land for a proposed military training facility.

The leaders, led by Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan and 12 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), said the planned allocation would affect communities in Khalalio, Arabia and Libahiya wards.

They stated that residents were not adequately consulted in a decision they said could have far-reaching social and economic implications.

“We wish to state that allocating an additional parcel of land to the military is unnecessary, as there is already a military installation at Omarjillow within Mandera East Constituency, less than five kilometres from the proposed site. This installation already serves border security functions,” Weytan said during the press conference.

The leaders also questioned the manner in which the reservation was carried out, stating that there was no public participation or consultation with the affected communities.

“The reservation was done without consultation, public participation, or the consent of the affected communities,” Weytan added.

Also present at the press conference were professionals, elders, religious leaders, and representatives of the local business community.