by Beatrice Obwocha and Kipchumba Kemei
The chairman of the Mau Forest Interim Co-ordinating Secretariat Hassan Noor Hassan has said the eviction in South Eastern Mau is expected to end in two weeks.
Mr Noor said there had not been forceful eviction, as families were leaving voluntarily.
He said the 1,690 families, who had no titles, were moving out and dispelled fears of a crisis.
He said arrangements had been made with DCs from 10 areas of South Eastern Mau to provide food and transport to those wishing to move to new districts.
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Food rations
A family constructs a temporary house by a roadside after they moved out of Mau Forest, yesterday. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD] |
He added, "We are mobilising vehicles to offer transport to those moving to other districts."
Noor said areas where people were moving out following the expiry of a 14-day notice issued by Kenya Forest Service last Monday, were Chematich, Tachasis, Kipsangon ,Kimesta ,Arowet, Kiptekelde, Langam, Kipkongoro, Lelbanget and Kapkembo.
Speaking to The Standard on telephone, the former Rift Valley PC said they were persuading those without title deeds to move out while those with the document to surrender the land.
Surrender land
"We have a committee compiling data to handle those who will not surrender land. The process will be handled in accordance with the law," he said.
Noor said the issue of compensation would come after those without title deeds have vacated.
His remarks came a day after families started moving out of the forest.
Meanwhile, settlers at the Maasai Mau Forest are asking the Government not to evict them.
They said they genuinely bought land and the Government should first address issues of compensation and relocation.
Their spokesperson William Cheruiyot yesterday said they had suffered in previous evictions in July and December 2005.
Eviction notice
Squatters living in South Eastern Mau have started moving out after the expiry of a two weeks notice issued by Kenya Forest Service.
Mr Cheruiyot said the Government should not evict them until the case they filed in court in 2005, restraining Narok County Council from interfering with their stay is heard and determined.
"Most of the people in Maasai Mau Forest don’t have title deeds because those who sold them land did not transfer them," said Cheruiyot.
When The Standard visited the forest, settlers were going about their lives unhindered.
