[Source: The Standard, by Steve Mkawale and Julius Chepkwony]
The anticipated eviction of settlers from the Maasai Mau Forest took a new twist after Rift Valley leaders claimed 60,000 families targeted were living on trust land managed by the Narok County government.
More than 30 leaders from the region who met in Nakuru County yesterday, said the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the national government have no right to claim the settlers’ land.
“We want to make it clear that the people living in Narok South are actually living in a trust land and are genuine buyers of land from titles issued by the government and by no means can they be categorised as forest dwellers,” said Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen.
Areas targeted in the phase two of the Mau evictions include the five ranches which are believed to have been extended. The group ranches include Enokishomi, Enoosokon, Nkaroni and Sisian.
The phase one evictions targeted 10,000 illegal settlers in Reiya Group Ranch.
Speaking after a seven-hour closed door meeting at Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru, Mr Murkomen, who is also the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, said: “It is a trust land managed by the county government of Narok. In fact, we have reports that the planned evictions were meant to target a certain community in the trust land.”
The senator said they convened the meeting after Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko declared that plans for the second phase of the Mau forest eviction were in progress.
Murkomen, however, revealed that the CS has given them an appointment on Tuesday to discuss the issue.
The meeting by the leaders who included governors, senators, MPs, Woman Reps, MCAs and former Cabinet ministers came after the multi-sectoral task force set up to review forestry management said it was ready for the second phase of the evictions.
Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said they were not against environmental conservation but wanted dialogue to resolve the Mau issue.
He warned the Environment ministry against inhumane treatment of families, saying there are laid down procedures for land acquisition.
[Full article: The Standard, by Steve Mkawale and Julius Chepkwony]
