[Source: Daily Nation, by George Sayagie]
Rift Valley politicians are facing headwinds in their plan to settle Mau families on a piece of land they bought in Narok South Sub-county.
The leaders in December identified different pieces of land totalling 68 acres in Tendwet, Sogoo and Ololulunga for the temporary resettlement of some of the 10,000 evicted families.
But an announcement by the government, through Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya, says any land for those evicted from Maasai Mau Forest must be at least 10km from the cutline.
Mr Natembeya claimed those buying land for the evictees have hatched a scheme to undermine the government’s efforts to restore the forest.
Mr Natembeya further said the land that was bought was insufficient for the large number of evictees and that this will lead to an informal settlement, which is not recommended for a rural setting.
The administrator also announced that the government was in the process of flashing out settlers from Marmanet, Embobut and Kaptagat forests in a broad mission to regain the lost forest land.
In response to Mr Natembeya’s announcement, Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno accused the government of intimidation, harassment and trying to stop the resettlement.
It is not clear how much money the leaders put into the resettlement plan.
The political class in the region has been urging the government to compensate or offer the evictees alternative land but the government says they had homes before they were duped into buying forest land.
Last week, the resettlement dispute took a fresh turn after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations summoned nine people over claims they flouted laws National Environment Management Authority when settling the families.
The government evicted the families during phase two of evictions and planted trees on the more than 20,000 hectares of land that were recovered.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko launched the reforestation drive, with the distribution of 10 million seedlings.
Thirteen tree species were planted on 3,000 hectares using the aerial seedling technology.
The first phase of the evictions, that was completed in 2018, saw 4,500 hectares reclaimed in the area that stretches from Nkoben to Kosia.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by George Sayagie]
