Lush and expansive tea plantations conceal damage to forest

From the Kiptagich-Mulot-Bomet road, the two tea plantations are a sight to behold. Lush and expansive, they sweep over the hilly horizon like giant green carpets, a flow broken only by intermittent rows of trees that serve as windbreaks.

They are Kiptagich and Sian, large-scale tea estates in Kuresoi District associated with retired President Daniel arap Moi. Though they have been around for a while, it is the revelation that they are in land hived off the Mau Forest Complex that has now thrown them into the public limelight.

According to the list tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Raila Odinga last week, Kiptagich Tea Estate got 80 hectares of the Mau forest land while Sian Enterprises got 118.89 hectares.

And now with the Mau debate raging, eyes are on whether the tea plantations will be closed to pave way for reclamation of the forest.

When the Nation team visited Kiptagich Tea Estate, a senior employee who asked not to be named said any interference with the operations of the farm would have far-reaching implications on the surrounding community. He said the estate employs some 2500 workers.

Junior employees vowed to oppose the planned eviction saying they would defend the estate, even if it means with their lives. Settlers in the area said those targeted will be reluctant to leave without first being shown alternative land.

“Some even want the government to build for them new homes first, apart from being compensated adequately,” said John arap Bett.

Apart from the companies that were named in the list tabled in Parliament, a Catholic Church group was also one of the beneficiaries in the Mau land allocations. The Little Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi reportedly got some 2956 hectares of land.

The land owned by the Catholic Church group has nursery, primary and secondary schools as well as a polytechnic. There is also a health centre.