Eviction team ready to move into Mau

The Kenya government is putting together a team of security officers from three agencies in readiness for expected evictions in Mau Forest, the Nation has learnt.

The mandate of the team, which will draw officers from the General Service Unit (GSU), the Administration Police (AP) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), will, however, not forcibly evict the settlers from Kenya’s largest and most important water tower, but will provide logistical support.

Sources at the Office of the President said the team was waiting for instructions from Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is coordinating the forest’s reclamation.

President Kibaki and Mr Odinga have, in recent days, both allayed fears that the government will use force to remove the settlers and pave way for re-afforestation.

Speaking in his office on Thursday, the PM hinted that a major announcement on the issue was likely to be made as early as next week.

“In the meantime, we are in the process of setting up a secretariat that will deal with the issue,” said the PM.

The secretariat is likely to deal with humanitarian issues, resettlement, compensation and a security operation billed to come under sharp scrutiny, following the tough stance of the Rift Valley MPs against the programme.

The MPs, led by Agriculture minister William Ruto, have warned against any forcible evictions and demanded that all title deed holders be compensated before they are moved from the forest.

Political violence

The MPs have received support from former President Daniel arap Moi, who has cautioned the government to tread carefully on the issue, saying it could lead to another round of bloodshed after the recent political violence.

The news that the OP is setting up a security team comes hot on the heels of a declaration by President Kibaki that settlers in the forest should move out and save the water tower.

While unveiling the PM’s strategic plan on Wednesday, the President urged the PM to prioritise the removal of “all forms of human habitation” from all water catchment areas in the country “without any further delay”.

He directed that all forest land illegally lost to individuals and developers be reclaimed and replanted with trees.

Last week while in Mombasa, the President warned that settlers in water catchment areas risked being arrested for contributing to environmental degradation.