Kenyan activists have initiated a court case to block the construction of luxury lodges in the Maasai Mara reserve, arguing that existing lodges were built illegally and new developments would harm the region's ecosystem.

The case, filed in Kenya's Environment and Land Court, focuses on the disruption of the Great Migration of over 1 million wildebeest, a critical wildlife phenomenon.Maasai herders also claim tourism expansion threatens their habitats and traditional ways of life.

The petitioners, including organizations like the East Africa Law Society and Natural Justice, seek court orders to halt new developments until 2032 and to declare existing lodges, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Sala's Camp, and Sand River Masai Mara, as illegally operating.The court has scheduled an initial hearing for July 20.This legal action follows a previous petition against the Ritz-Carlton lodge, which was rejected by Kenya's wildlife agency.The case highlights tensions between tourism growth and environmental preservation in the region.