Over 3000 people evicted from the Maasai Mau forest in fresh evictions

Narok,

Thursday, October 26, 2023

KNA by Ann Salaton

Over 3000 people have been evicted in parts of Maasai Mau Forest in a fresh eviction that commenced on September 28, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr. Abdi Hassan has said.

Dr Hassan who spoke today at the Narok County Commissioner’s office said 400 temporary structures, 1330 cedar posts, 1245 timber and 58 charcoal storage points were also destroyed.

Twenty permanent structures and two schools that were built in the forest land have not been destroyed as the government officials consult on how to utilize them.

“The schools have not been destroyed because of the forthcoming exams. However, after the exams, we will consult on how to utilize them since they were built in forest land,” he said.

The RC said the most affected areas were Medung’í, Eneng’etia, Ololpil, Olokurto, Isasimwani, Nkaretta and Kerampa areas.

“We have already evicted people from Medung’i, Enengétia, Ololpil and Olokurto parts where boundaries are clearly known. We are now moving to Sachwasan as we wait for the government surveyor to establish the exact boundaries at Nkarretta area,” said Dr. Hassan.

Some of the illegal activities that were being carried out in the forest land were cutting down trees, grazing, farming and charcoal burning, he noted.

“The government will not engage in any negotiations with the illegal settlers. They only have one option, to use the shortest route to get out of the forest land,” he reiterated.

He however said those living near the forest land would continue staying there provided they do not encroach on the forest land.

Dr. Hassan said the evictions were being done in a humane manner as all the officers conducting the exercise are disciplined and trained on how to handle humans with care.

For those evicted from the forest land, the RC stressed that they would not be compensated by the government and asked them to go back to their original homes.

The RC was accompanied by the regional security team and Narok security team led by County Commissioner Isaac Masinde.

Maasai Mau forest is approximately 46, 000 hectares where by 23, 000 hectares had been invaded by illegal settlers.

In the year 2018/2019, the government evicted over 35,000 people from the forest land in Sierra Leone and Nkoben areas in Narok South Sub County.

In the efforts of protecting the forest land, the government through Kenya Water towers put up a 30-kilometer electric fence at Nkoben and Sierra Leone part of the forest.

Courtesy; KNA