Kenyans will no longer be allowed to plant eucalyptus trees in areas less than 30 metres from wetlands.
This follows a court judgment prohibiting the same.
Land and Environment court sitting in Olkalou, in Nyandarua County gave the orders on Wednesday November 12, 2025.
The Court further issued orders requiring that all Eucalyptus trees planted in such areas to be uprooted within a 45 days window period.
While delivering the judgement, Justice Joseph Mugo noted that a public interest litigation filed by Nyamira-based lawyer Wilfred Moseti Omariba would set presedence in determination of cases related to environmental issues.
The Judge pointed out that parliament ought to formulate laws regulating the growing of Eucalyptus so as to address the growing concerns and dangers associated with uncontrolled growing of Eucalyptus trees especially on wetlands.
Parliament is now required to come up with such laws within a period 12 months.
The matter was filed by Lawyer Omariba against Water CS , Environment CS, KFS, NEMA and the attorney General at the Nyamira high court four years ago.
He accused the aforementioned of failing to control and regulate the growing of Eucalyptus trees thus posing serious threats to the environment.
Addressing press outside Nyandarua Law courts in Olkalou just minutes after the judgment, Environmentalist Beatrice Wanjiku, and Lawyer Omariba welcomed the judgement.
They called on parliament to move with speed and make laws to regulate the growing of Eucalyptus trees as directed by the court.
In the 100 page judgement, the court also prohibited planting of Eucalyptus trees on marshy areas unless with written permission from Water CS, planting of the trees on irrigated farmlands and areas where the water table depth is less than 20 meters, areas less than 30 meters from infrastructure facilities like buildings and roads and also parcels of lands measuring below 1/4 acre.
Further, Eucalyptus trees are not to be planted in areas that receive less than 400 mm of rainfall on average per year.