A section of political leaders from Narok and Kajiado counties have rallied behind the government’s planned phase two evictions of Mau Forest settlers.
Led by Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina and his Kajiado counterpart Philip Mpayeei and former Nairobi City Speaker Alex Ole Magelo, the leaders said they fully support Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko’s move to conserve Maasai Mau trust land as a key water catchment area.
“If Narok suffers, Kajiado as a neighbor must speakon this. We won’t relent. We must conserve our environment and it is not negotiable,” Senator Mpayeei told a press conference at a Nairobi Hotel on Monday.
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But a section of Rift Valley leaders on Sunday vowed to resist the planned eviction of over 60,000 families by the government from Mau Forest.
Led by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Belgut MP Nelson Koech said the inhabitants have genuine titles and accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto of reneging on pre-election promises to resettle and compensate the affected families.
“This exercise is illegal. We will not allow the evictions to go on because it is discriminatory to the people,” Cheruiyot said.
But former Nairobi City Speaker Alex Ole Magelo has cautioned the leaders from issuing inflammatory statements, warning that their latest utterances are likely to trigger animosity.
Magelo noted the drying of the only river in Maasai land, the Mara River, is already a declaration of war on humanity as such the contested Mau block is a trust land that under the Constitution belongs to the Maasai community.
“We are the legitimate owners of Maasai Mau Forest; that is contestable. You cannot win the war on conservation by populist politics,” Ole Magelo said.
He continued, “Insulting CS Tobiko and calling him names won’t help,” he warned.
On his part, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina reiterated that illegal settlers must leave the Mau Forest and the eviction process must go on.
“The remaining illegal settlers must move out immediately as the destruction of Mau Forest has greatly affected the ecosystem of Maasai Mara Game reserve,” he noted.
Ole Kina recommended that the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission report, the Ndung’u report and others be implemented fully.
Governor Lenku called on the government to enforce the law and its directive that persons living in the Mau water towers must move out.
He also called on authorities to rein on war mongers who had started inciting communities.
“We will go to any length to ensure that the law is respected and the government directive on Mau Forest is honoured by getting everyone living there evicted,” he concluded.
