Salat slams State over Mau row

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat says people living on farms bordering the Mau Forest were being harassed despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive that eviction of the settlers be stopped.

Mr Salat accused the Government of engaging in double speak and called on President Kenyatta to offer leadership on the issue.

Speaking on Saturday in Kimogoro in Narok South sub-county during the funeral of Kenneth Keter, Salat accused Kenya Forestry Service rangers and the Ministry of Interior of defying a presidential directive not to demolish houses in areas that have been classified as a gazetted forest.

"The reports that we have received indicate that four schools, Tekek, Arorwet, Mosop and Sebetet have been demolished by the security officers in the ongoing operation. We wonder who is in charge here because President Kenyatta directed that torching of the houses should stop," he said.

Salat maintained the Government should re-demarcate the boundary between the forest and settlement areas, so that those on forest land can be given time to move their property.

He said those who had relocated were spending nights in the cold and this was exposing them to diseases.

"Two children died at Kipchoge trading centre following pneumonia attack with 11 others hospitalised last week," said Salat.