Police burn houses in Mt Elgon Forest to evict alleged encroachers

Women prepare nettles leaves at Lapot village, Chepkitale in Mt. Elgon. Police have been on a mission to evict villagers who live in the forest reserve. PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA/FILE

BUNGOMA: The decision by a joint security team to torch all houses owned by the Ogiek community in Chepkitale, Mt Elgon, has sparked public outrage. Area leaders want the families, which allegedly encroached Mt Elgon Forest, compensated. The operation on Monday was carried out by a team of security agents drawn from the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya police.