Former President Moi has dismissed claims he is responsible for the destruction of Mau Forest.

Moi defended his administration, saying he initiated several forest conservation projects across the country during his 24 years in power.

He said he was not bothered over the barrage of criticism directed at him.

"If someone is talking about Moi you are doing so because you fear me. I will not answer you as we are all interested in conservation," he said.

Moi cited the establishment of the Nyayo tea zones in Nyeri, Embu, Kiambu and Kericho aimed at protecting the environment.

He accused Government agencies charged with protecting forests of failure, leading to the current situation.

He said in some cases, foresters supposed to guard the forests, were involved in illegal logging.

He denied allocating land in the water catchment areas, and said some people encroached the forest due to negligence by forest guards.

"They allowed people to move into the forests they were supposed to protect," he added.

Appeal for peace

Moi was addressing a peace and reconciliation rally at Kamwaura in Kuresoi constituency, yesterday.

Hundreds of residents who have land in the controversial Mau forest turned up for the rally.

The former President asked the Government to first plant trees on huge chunks of land without any human settlement. "When you move around the country you see bare land all over. Why don’t they start with those areas?" he posed.

Moi also said nobody was against forest conservation and wondered why many were obsessed with Mau.

"Water levels at Lake Naivasha are receding yet its source is in the Aberdares. What does that have to do with Mau?" he asked.

Moi was accompanied by more than 20 councillors from the Nakuru County Council.

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