Mau eviction question has become thorn in Ruto’s flesh

The shoe is on the other foot for Deputy President William Ruto on the hot potato issue of Mau Forest restoration.

In October 2010, Mr Ruto accused then Prime Minister Raila Odinga of delaying the resettlement of Mau Forest evictees saying the ODM leader wanted to use it as an election bait.

An unapologetic Mr Ruto blamed Mr Odinga for being behind the delays in the release of the Sh3.6 billion meant to buy alternative land for those who were evicted.

“Some people in government have refused to fast-track the resettlement simply because they want to use it as bait for votes in the next General Election,” said Mr Ruto.

With him at the 2010 funds drive in Kiruiyeki Africa Inland Church in Turbo were MPs Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi), Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi), and Moses Lessonet of Eldama Ravine.

Ironically, in the run up to the 2013 elections, Mr Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta would use the permanent and “humane” resettlement of the Mau evictees to harvest votes in the South Rift Valley.

UNFARMILIAR TERRITORY

But more than two years later, the Deputy President has been thrust into unfamiliar territory, which has seen a reversal of roles.

Mr Ruto is now accused of not only orchestrating forceful eviction of Mau squatters but also reneging on his promise of compensation.

“You accused me of Mau forest evictions (when I was Prime Minister). So why are evictions still being carried out today? Am I the one carrying out the evictions?” asked Mr Odinga during the burial of Dr Benjamin Kipkorir in Kapcherop, Elgeyo Marakwet County last Saturday.

Mr Odinga pointed out that the current evictions were being done by the Jubilee administration in which Mr Ruto is now a principal player.

While he cannot afford to appear to suggest that he does not support the conservation of the country’s greatest water tower, Mr Ruto, as a politician, cannot also afford to lose the region’s votes because of the action.

Analysts argue that Mr Odinga lost the region’s votes largely because of the argument by Mr Ruto and his allies that he engineered the evictions.

And in a dramatic turn of events, the MPs who supported Mr Ruto in his propaganda against Mr Odinga have turned their guns against him, accusing him of reneging on his 2013 elections promise.

“Uhuru, Ruto, (Narok Senator) Stephen ole Ntutu and I led other Kanu leaders to meetings in IDP camps and appealed to them to hold on to their titles. We told them they would be compensated when we assumed power,” said Governor Isaac Ruto, who indicated that the Jubilee administration had instead started removing the families from the water tower.

NOBODY REMOVED FROM MAU

But in an interview with Citizen TV, the Deputy President insisted that nobody had been removed from the Mau.

In fact, Mr Ruto said that some unnamed MP had burnt houses and posted the pictures on Facebook for sympathy, a charge that Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno denied.

Mr Ng’eno said the claims were a rumour being used by top leaders together with Narok County Commissioner Arthur Osiya to hoodwink Kenyans.

“The MP that Mr Ruto was referring to as having torched the houses is me. But of course it has been choreographed.

“People were removed from the Mau and I am not the enemy here. The person who lies that they were not is the one who should say what he means,” said Mr Ng’eno.

Mr Bernard Sang’, a representative of those evicted in Narok South the Nation that Tekek, Arorwet, Mosop and Sebetet Schools, alongside two churches in Tekek and Kipchoge villages, were demolished by the officers.

Mr Sang’ estimates that 2,300 families of evictees are currently living in three camps — Kipchoge, Olapa and Arorwet.

Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta, who has been vocal calling for the conservation of the Mau, was Saturday categorical that the water tower must be saved at all costs, even if it means losing elections.

“I am a Jubilee MP but I want to tell Mr Ruto and the President that it is better to lose the elections than to lose the whole country if we do not protect the Mau.

“This is not a tribal call, it is a call for all of us to be mindful of the environment,” he said.

In fact, Mr Kenta warns that the Jubilee administration might lose the Maasai votes if it fails to evict settlers from the forest.

“Mr Ruto just has to bite the bullet. We must talk about compensation and what should be given to these people, but by all means let us save the Mau,” Mr Kenta insisted.