MPs summon Environment CS Tobiko over Mau evictions

By , K24 Digital
On Sun, 1 Sep, 2019 18:40 | < 1 min read
Mau evictees
Hundreds of Mau Forest settlers have left the complex to avoid forcible evictions. PHOTO | AMOS KIOK | EMOO FM
Hundreds of Mau Forest settlers have left the complex to avoid forcible evictions. PHOTO | AMOS KIOK | EMOO FM

A parliamentary committee has on Sunday summoned Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko over the Mau evictions.

The summons come amid looming eviction of 60,000 people from the Mau Forest beginning on Monday, September 1, 2019.

National Assembly’s Environment Committee Chairman Kareke Mbiuki said that the national government must put in place a post-eviction plan to ensure evictees are resettled.

“Before engaging on the phase II evictions the Environment Cabinet Secretary should update Kenyans on the successes of phase I including the number hectares restored,” said Mr Mbiuki in the statement to newsrooms.

The MP said that the Environment Committee will invite CS Tobiko when Parliament resumes to shed more light on Phase II evictions.

The second phase of the evictions targets Nkoben, Ilmotiok and Ololung'a, Enokishomi, Enoosokon, Nkaroni and Sisian areas, which are part of the 46,000-hectare trust land. 

On Sunday, the government deployed security personnel to man Maasai Mau forest in readiness to evict more than 60,000 settlers.

The planned eviction which will be carried out by a joint security team comprising of Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Narok County rangers and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers and the Kenya Police Service.

K24 has established that the Mau operation will be spearheaded by the Narok KFS officers led by service Operation Commandant Isaac Lemarkoko.

The operation is expected to last three days starting Monday morning.