Moi muddies the waters for Raila in Mau Complex

Recently, local leaders who support the removal of settlers from the forest said communities affected by the degradation of Mau will protest if the government does not act soon enough to save the forest.

Led by Prof Meitamei Olol Dapash, the Narok North ODM Kenya branch chairman, the leaders said they were fully behind Heritage minister William ole Ntimama, who has called for the unconditional eviction of the settlers.

“Our people are suffering downstream; their animals are dying and our crops are failing. Yet, as others speak of compensation, nobody is thinking about them,” Prof Dapash said.

He added that the three-month period set by the government for the settlers to leave the forest was too long. “As we speak now, there is wanton destruction of the forest as loggers scramble for timber,” he said.

Councillor Salanket ole Nchoe criticised former President Moi for opposing the government’s decision to evict squatters from the forest. He said the council had the capacity to eject the settlers as it did in 2005.

“Had it not been for the bad politics of 2007 which returned squatters to the forest, the issue would by now be dead and buried,” he said.

Mr Francis Nkako, the managing director of Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority, welcomed the move saying it should have been done 20 years ago.

“I overflew the Mau yesterday and the situation is pathetic. Let the government move in urgently and recover whatever little remains of it,” he said.