Ogiek tribes children stand near tree stamp in Mauche settlement scheme of Mau Forest Complex in the Rift Valley, about 127 miles to the south-west of Kenya's capital Nairobi. The deforestation of the Mau Forest is significantly reducing the ability of the forest ecosystem to cope with natural disasters, in particular drought, hence leading to more severe impacts and destruction of the woodland by rampant illegal settlement, logging and charcoal burning. Photograph: Thomas Bohlen / REUTERS

By Kipchumba Kemei The Government will next month embark on the second phase of the controversial Mau Forest evictions. Kenya Forest Service sources say the exercise will kick off shortly after President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga tour the forest for a tree planting ceremony along Narok North-Molo districts borders. The first exercise ended late last month with eviction of more than 2,000 families from South West of the complex. The Government said the families had no title deeds. The second phase targets settlers of Kiptagich and Olengurone extension schemes where more than Sh2 billion has been reportedly offered as compensation to the beneficiaries in Likia, Mauche and adjacent areas. Beneficiaries and supporters of those who were allocated land in the named areas have dared Raila, who is spearheading the exercise to reclaim the 400,000-hectare complex to make good his promise, threatening that the eviction would be resisted. A source privy to the intended eviction to clear all settlements in the 21 forest blocks that form the complex said after the second phase, the eviction squad will move to the 146,000 hectare Maasai Mau forest where most settlers have either title deeds or land sale agreements. …

Phase two of Mau evictions to begin