The circus on clearance of human settlement from Mau Forest Complex is on and caught in its web are leaders who seemingly are agreed in principle.

But the question among the leaders shadow-boxing over Mau seems to be who will run away with the credit for orderly and swift removal on one hand, and on the other who shall come out as the public watchdog. Prime Minister Raila Odinga stepped in, trashed the 14-day ultimatum Kenya Forest Service gave the settlers on August 21, and showed it is he who runs the show on Mau.

His language also betrayed the importance he attaches to the assignment he was given by the President last week, which in all ways could endear him to Kenyans if he pulls through, or would burn his fingers if it were mishandled.

"The PM appeals to the public to see the Government action on the Mau not as a punishment for any individuals or group but an act of preserving the future of the nation, (and) being done in the interest of the nation," said his Director of Communication, Dennis Onyango, in the rebuttal statement.

The Kenya Forest Service has given illegal settlers 14 days to vacate the depleted water tower and today they have eight days to go. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

But nobody was, however, reprimanded over the advertisement by Kenya Forest Service, which is under Cabinet minister Noah Wekesa, that raised political temperatures in Rift Valley and excited threats of unspecified action from its leaders.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto, like Raila, is agreed settlers must move out of the water tower, but in a humane manner and after compensation or provision of alternative land. But that is how far they go. Ruto, as late as Tuesday night, was saying he was ready to pay the ultimate political price to protect his ‘people’. He argued they had been ‘criminalised along with its leadership, both present and past". But still he has not gone back on his change of mind that the compensation, as was decided in the Cabinet, should be limited to those who own five hectares or less.

Then in comes Dr Wekesa whose department stirred the hornet’s nest, and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta (also the Finance Minister) who, like Ruto and Raila, wants to see settlers compensated, and the settlers handled humanely.

Underdog defender?

But curiously, like when he joined Ruto at a funeral fundraiser on Tuesday evening, Uhuru has cast the image of the defender of the underdog. And probably with the eye on 2012 General Election, he has chosen to project himself as Ruto’s friend — in so far us Mau is concerned — and the process fanning speculation of a Kalenjin-Kikuyu alliance floated early in the year is not buried.

The new entrant to the cat-and-mouse games playing out over Mau is Wekesa, who argues he is innocent over the notice but is nonetheless seen as an interested party given his Cabinet portfolio. He blamed the advert on his Permanent Secretary and Raila’s. "The matter was discussed by the two Permanent Secretaries who did not refer it to me or any other person."

He expressed regret the notice issued by KFS pitted him against the PM, saying the two Permanent Secretaries should have let him look at the notice before it was released.

Wekesa added: "I will respect what the President and the Prime Minister say. I am their servant."

Raila, in his statement, said his office was putting together a comprehensive inter-ministerial committee, which will be gazetted and will spell out relocation programmes.

"In the past, residents lost their crops, animals, homes and other property in forceful evictions. That will not be the case again,’’ said the PM, who is mandated to supervise and co-ordinate the functions of ministries.

Uhuru explained there is neither the money nor land for the Mau settlers, but argued the Government was not going to create more suffering by forcing them out empty-handed.

The Agriculture Minister claimed there was a campaign to criminalise the Kalenjin, a move he vowed he would not allow to continue.

"There is a systematic campaign to portray the Kalenjin as thieves, land grabbers, and a people responsible for drought and famine," he added.

Ruto argued there was also a campaign to criminalise the community, with its leadership both present and past — something he said he would fight.

Stay put

South Rift MPs addressed a news conference asking their constituents to defy the ultimatum and not to move until compensated. Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Julius Kones (Konoin), Charles Keter (Belgut), Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi) and Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi) said evictions must be resisted, as many families would be affected.

"We have schools in the forest and pupils and students are preparing to sit for their final exams next term. The evictions will certainly affect them," said Keter.

Ruto said KFS was acting like a "militia" by threatening settlers, adding the era of quit notices was long gone and accused the Government of acting in a barbaric manner.

"The evictions if implemented would create second phase of IDPs like what happened during post-election violence," said Ruto.

" We tell those behind the notice we will not tire defending the rights of our people," said Langat.

Cheruiyot said the evictions if carried out would have serious "political" implications.

"It is only a barbaric government that gives 14-day ultimatum for the people of Mau to leave their land. They want to tell me to leave the land in 14 days. Where do I go, out of Kenya?" asked Mr Isaac Ruto.

|   |    |   Add Comment |    Comments (3)