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PM says Mau settlers to get support
A settler displaced from South Western Mau prepares food at Kapkembu camp in Kuresoi district where hundreds of displaced families are camping. Prime Minister Odinga has said the settlers will begin receiving assistance. PHOTO/ CORRESPONDENT
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).
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The MAu issue is something simple if politics are put aside.MPs agree that mau should be saved but because they are politically inspired to confront Raila on issues they take on him with the intentions to destroy Raila politically.ON Railas Side He wishes to save MAu buthe does not have the records,means and procedure especially in the vue that Rift MPs have left him to do it and mess up.MPs should help the government on important matters not issue ultimatums.collective Ideas and suggestion can work well than ultimatums
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i am not a polical person as such, but seeing these people, crying for help, it will be fair for the govermnent to help them in any way. IF this was happening in the west...it will ave in TV's thru; the day and nite
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well done to the prime minister,is doing a good job for kenya and im proud to have as our primeminister.Those Rift valley Mp's are crooks,The is no secret about it( inciting locals to go against the law and invade goverment land).the are setting a dangerous precedence.some of them own huge tracts of land in the mau forest.this issue has to be sorted out otherwise kenya is heading nowhere.it is time for kenyans to wake up and fight against corruption,landgrabbing,tribalsim and insecurity and many more.
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