Mau Forest evictees demand land as compensation
July 27 (Nairobi Star) – ABOUT 2,000 Mau Forest evictees have asked the government to give them land. They said they preferred being given land and not money. Speaking in Nakuru, leaders from 12 IDP camps accused those who wanted compensation in form of cash as impostors. The camps include Kongasis, Chepkoburon, Tiriyta, Kaptembwo, Kiletien, Kipkoris, Tepeswet, Kusumek, Chebugen, Kipkongor, Kurbantat and Tiriikoi. Over 4,000 families who have pitched camp in the outskirts of the forest have blamed government of neglecting them. “We demand the government to buy us land instead of giving us cash. Those who were demanding cash compensation were not genuine evictees and were out to scuttle the process,” said Philip Ng’eny, the evictee’s chairman.
He added that they wanted the government to resettle them within Kuresoi or Oleng’uruone. “Despite dire situation, we are still hopeful that the government will get us land just like they have resettled other Kenyans who were displaced during the 2007/08 post election violence,” said Ng’eny. He added that the government was dragging its feet despite them are living in deplorable conditions. “We are experiencing extreme weather conditions, food shortage, lack of medication and torn tents have largely contributed to the deaths, majority being children,” said Ng’eny. At the same time, the IDPs demanded to know disappearance of Sh6 million raised at a Nairobi hotel meant to resettle them.
Mau Forest Evictees Demand Land As Compensation
By Peter Kahare
20 July 2011 (Kenya) – People who were evicted from Kenya’s largest water catchment, the Mau forest have rejected a Committee formed by Prime Minister Raila Odinga to arrange and lead in resettlement exercise.
The displaced families said Monday that they did not have confidence in the committee since their representatives were not included.
The representatives of the evicted people were reacting to Prime Minister Odinga’s announcement last week that a committee had been formed to address the resettlement of the more than 6,000 families evicted from Mau forest in November 2009.
According to the Prime Minister the Committee would be made up of Roads Minister Franklin Bett and Members of Parliament Magerer Lang’at of Kipkelion constituency, Beatrice Kones of Bomet and Joyce Laboso of Sotik constituencies.
John Rotich, chairman of Kapkembu Camp, where over 200 families are camping, said they want the Ministry of Special Programs to handle the resettlement exercise.
The displaced families faulted the PM for leaving out legislator Zakayo Cheruiyot from the team yet he represented Kuresoi constituency where evicted families are camping.
A local Church leader Reverend Abraham Mutai said the Mau Interim Coordinating Secretariat, which is charged with restoring the forest, should also not play any part in the planned resettlement as it had lost the confidence of the residents.
The more than 6,000 families of Kalenjin Community were evicted from Mau forest in an exercise that was to kick start the restoration of the vital forest block where more than 12 rivers flow from.
According to the Secretariat at least 24,000 hectares of the forest’s 400,000 hectares have been reclaimed.
The complex has lost at least 107,000 hectares of forest cover due to irregular and unplanned settlements, logging and charcoal burning, as well as agriculture activities, over the past 20 years.
Pressure has mounted on the government to resettle the families who squat under drooping bamboo raised tents, to save them from adverse forest weather, diseases, and hunger.
