NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan tribunal has blocked the construction of a government-backed coal power plant in Lamu County, which hosts a UNESCO world heritage site.

Civil rights activists had challenged the government's issuing of licenses saying the construction of the coal-fired plant, designed to produce 1050 megawatts of power, would cause environmental damage.

The tribunal Wednesday said the National Environment Authority and the AMU Company Limited had allowed public to give their views on the project before an environmental impact assessment was done. The public supported the project without the knowledge of a detrimental Environmental Impact Assessment. The tribunal questioned whether the public would have supported the project had they known of its adverse effects.

Public participation must be a meaningful engagement, the tribunal said.