[Source: Daily Nation, by George Sayagie]
Illegal settlers in the controversial Mau forest started streaming out of the resource Monday to avoid a major confrontation with law enforcement officers deployed to execute an eviction order.
The movement came as Kenya Forest Services (KFS) officers arrived at Sierra Leone, Nkoben, and Olpusimoru South areas ready to effect the order as they await the expiry of a 60-day notice that expires in October.
The order requiring the illegal settlers to vacate the vital water tower was issued last week by Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya.
Some of the settlers, frightened by the show of might as the heavily armed KFS officers arrived in several lorries and in the backdrop of a history of brutal evictions, opted to peacefully move out.
A number of them quietly packed their belongings and trooped out of their homes, said to be within forest boundaries. However, others vowed to stay put.
The Nation team arrived at Sierra Leone and witnessed some of the settlers moving towards Mulot on the border of Narok and Bomet counties, while others crossed through Olpusimoru forest towards Olengurone and Chepakundi in Nakuru County.
And with schools re-opening for the Third Term on Monday, it was a bad day for more than 5,000 pupils in 15 schools, which remained shut with teachers being given a stern warning by KFS officers against allowing anyone into the institutions.
Some of the schools affected include Kirobon, Senetwet, Kapsibilwo, Kitoben, Indianit, Kabarak, Noosogami, Chorwet, Ogilgei, Sebetet, Olabai, Koitabai, Chebirbelek, Chebetet and Lelechwet.
Rift Valley regional commissioner Goerge Natembeya and newly-posted Narok County commissioner Samuel Kimiti have maintained that it will be difficult for the government to effectively protect the forest if Sierra Leone, Kass FM and Kipchoge settlements remain.
Another resident of Sierra Leone, Mr Josephat Langat, also said he bought his land in 1999 and denied having encroached into the forest land.
He wants the Lands registry in Narok to be held responsible for the mess.
According to Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, the area targeted for evictions was declared Crown Land in the 1930s and made a National Reserve in 1945 before it was officially gazetted in 1954 as a Forest Reserve under the Forest Act.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by George Sayagie]
