Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and his Nairobi counterpart Evans Kidero were on Thursday given 30 days to respond to an application seeking to stop them from constructing houses on the shores of Lake Victoria.
This is after the hearing of the case in which the two Governors and Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Alice Kaudia who were taken to court for allegedly encroaching on wetlands around Lake Victoria failed to take place at a Kisumu court.
Michael Nyaguti, the plaintiff had filed an application in the court in 2013 seeking temporary injunction to be directed to the defendants.
Nyanguti argued that the continuation of such activities was likely to cause harm to the environment in the disputed wetlands.
He says the manner in which the wetlands are on the verge of destruction is a cause for great concern and needed to be addressed as fast as possible.
Taremkwa Darius, the lawyer representing the two Governors told court that his clients were not served with the application.
Kisumu land and environment Judge Stephen Kibunja however, directed the defendants to file a response to the application within 30 days.
Teremkwa however, said that the two Governors were unlikely to file the response within the 30 days because they are sitting Governors and as a result they have a lot of duties and may not be able to conform to the given period.
The arguments were dismissed by the judge saying they can easily sign an affidavit adding that the court does not allow such exclusion.