The luxury Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara camp is seeking a full court hearing after conservation activist Joel Meitamei Ole Dapash moved to withdraw a petition calling for its closure. The high-end safari property, where rooms cost $3,675 (Sh476,647) per night, says a complete hearing is necessary to restore its reputation after months of public criticism.
Lazizi Mara Limited, which operates the camp, argued that allowing the case to be dropped would leave serious allegations unresolved, harming both its credibility and the viability of one of Kenya’s most prominent luxury tourism ventures.
The withdrawal request was filed yesterday in the Environment and Land Court in Narok, following instructions from the petitioner to his lawyers.
The original petition named both JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton as respondents, claiming the camp disrupts wildlife migration routes and breaches constitutional safeguards for ecosystems. Since filing, however, discussions between involved stakeholders have reportedly addressed some of the concerns.
“We received instructions from the petitioner that there have been constructive conversations between various parties regarding the concerns raised,” the petitioner’s lawyer told the court. “He is satisfied that the issues are being resolved and has instructed us to withdraw the petition.” The lawyer asked the court to record the case as withdrawn without imposing costs.
Lazizi Mara Limited, however, opposed the withdrawal, insisting that a full hearing is necessary to dispel months of negative publicity. The company’s lawyer warned that abandoning the case would leave damaging claims unaddressed. “The petition was filed in August, but we were served three months later,” he said, noting that the camp has faced prolonged vilification over alleged environmental violations.
The court will now consider the withdrawal request alongside submissions from both sides before making a ruling.
