PM says Mau settlers to get support

Kenyans leaving the Mau Forest will begin receiving humanitarian assistance from the government.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga Thursday said the government had started profiling the people leaving the water tower with the aim of helping them.

“The Government has an elaborate plan to assist those leaving the forests start a new life and be self reliant,” said Mr Odinga.

His statement comes a day after the government stated that squatters leaving the South Western Mau Forest would not be compensated since they did not have documents to support their stay in the 400,000-hectare forest.

In statement sent through the Director of Communication in his office Dennis Onyango, Mr Odinga appealed to those vacating the forest to fill in profiling forms being administered by the Ministry of Special Programmes and the Provincial Administration.

According to the PM, the profiling was important as it would enable the government know the immediate and changing needs of those leaving the forests and offer appropriate assistance.

“The information gathered from the profile will enable the government provide both urgent and long term services to the residents.”

The PM spoke as the Mau controversy took a new twist with Heritage minister William Ntimama calling on the government to investigate the Rift MPs' sources of finance whom he alleged were bribing squatters to resist eviction.

Mr Ntimama and three other MPs claimed that Agriculture minister William Ruto and his allies from the Rift Valley were giving squatters “dirty money” to stay and fight the government.

But he warned of resistance from communities around Mau if the MPs carry out their threat to lead the people back to the complex.

“If this is true it should be investigated and stopped,” Mr Ntimama said in statement.

The bribery claims were quickly denied by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto who termed Mr Ntimama’s remarks as ‘rumours’.

“That is rumour mongering. I can only respond to facts not rumours,” said Mr Ruto at Parliament buildings.

According to the minister, the planned march by the Rift MPs had been funded by money from suspicious sources.  “It is stolen money, money that has been fraudulently obtained,” he said.

He was flanked by MPs: Joseph Kiuna (Molo), Nkoidila ole Lankas (Narok South) and Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu Town East).