Kipsigis council of elders have sued the state over its plans to divert water from a catchment area to Itare Dam - which is under construction.
Led by chairman Joseph Kimetto, they moved to the Nakuru High Court to stop the national government from proceeding with the plan.
The government had announced plans to divert waters from Ndoinet forest to the dam that is being constructed in Nakuru.
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The elders said the suit, to stop the planned diversion and subsequent construction of the Itare dam, was filed on behalf of residents of Kericho and Bomet counties.
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However, Justice Maureen Odero declined to issue orders restraining and stopping the ongoing construction of the dam until the file is brought before her.
The court postponed the matter to a later date since the file was yet to be received from a Mombasa court.
The elders alleged that Water CS Eugene Wamalwa, during his visit to Kericho county, promised to supply water once the dam is complete.
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They said the plan to divert the waters from the said forest was an absurd gesture which they will not allow since most rivers traversing the two counties are supplied on the catchment.
Kimetto said they will appeal to the residents of Bomet and Kericho counties to embrace the campaign dubbed, "Keep away from our rivers".
The campaign urges the residents to refuse the construction of the dam on grounds that it will cause rivers that depend on the catchment to dry and in the long run affect the communities' livelihoods.