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Mau settlers ordered out of camps
An aerial view of Kapkembu camp in Kuresoi District where hundreds of evictees from South Western Mau are camping after leaving the forest. The government on Sunday ordered Mau Forest squatters out of makeshift camps as it stepped up efforts to clear settlers out of the water catchment. PHOTO/ CORRESPONDENT
Posted Sunday, November 22 2009 at 22:00
Speaking during a tour of the Mau at the weekend, Special Programmes Permanent Secretary Ali Mohamed said the government did not want the mushrooming of makeshift camps in the Mau Complex.
He asked squatters to return to their original homes and promised that they would be provided with help if they left.
Mr Mohammed had just visited a family that lost their mother at Kurbanyat camp in Kiptagich. He said the government had already released Sh7.2 million for humanitarian assistance, including transport.
“I encourage you to go back to where you came from so that you can benefit from the elaborate plan the government has put in place for you,” he said.
But speaking at Kapkembu camp, a few kilometres from where the PS was, area MPs Zakayo Cheruiyot and Julius Kones urged the settlers to stay in the camps until they were given land.
Mr Cheruiyot accused the government of mistreating the settlers and Dr Kones said the government was subjecting the people to unnecessary suffering in the name of conservation.
“While we all support conservation efforts by the government, it is wrong for the government to expose people, especially women and children, to uninhabitable conditions,” he said.
Reports by Daniel Otieno, Godfrey Rono and George Sayagie
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Submitted by anexus4Posted November 24, 2009 09:38 PM
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Submitted by dubainice
Its right that Mau must be cleared sooner than later.. Mr. Raila u got my backing.I live in the desert and i know the repucussions shud the gov allow pple to grab public land.mureithijm.. pls none is suffreing under leaders they want them to protect grabbed forest land.they dont hav totle deeds why and how do they claim land is theirs?water is life n if catchment arent looked and conserved we may not have life in future.keep politics out of mau
Posted November 23, 2009 01:27 PM -
Submitted by Linda415
@yesuwangu, it defeats any logic why some Kenyans who shud be intelligent enough to make independent dicions gets brain worshiped by somebody's doctrine. They criticise evils by others and are ready to kill to defend evils of the man they worship. An evil is an evil regardless who did it. If it was wrong for illegal settlers to occupy Mau and other forests, it's equally wrong for Raila to be allocated public land by Moi coz he agreed to disband his party and joined Kanu. All grabbers must return public land, whether it's Raila or squatters
Posted November 23, 2009 01:22 PM -
Submitted by nyarateng
The Bluez Kalonzo is the VP not Minister for environment! his docket is where there is cholera now! well as usuall he talked yesterday and said those people should not be treated as chickens!! nevertheless he will talk sesibly after everything else has cooled now he is hiding somewhere probably rewinding the fight over and over. We are the voters na sisi ndiyo tuta amua we are seeing those who can work in the meantime!
Posted November 23, 2009 01:19 PM -
Submitted by THE BLUEZ
Why is Kalonzo? He should be in the forefront in the eviction exercise as he is the Minister for Environment isnt he? But as usual a coward is always a coward,he is afraid of his political career and selfish interest... No chance for u Kalonzo in 2012. we are watching u
Posted November 23, 2009 12:50 PM
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From the look of things, only the brave will stand. This is an acid test that will upset many and have many more sacrificed politically, socially, economically and morally. The prime minister must acquire the bravery of a fly who dined on the mouth of a lion! As much as this move happen to affect his political carrier, History will be fair to him. I therefore urge him -- 'Go Raila go, for you are unbwogable!