Police move to quell tension ahead of Mau forest eviction

Kenya wildlife services and Kenya Forest service officers patrol at Sierra Leon area in Maasai Mau Forest. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

Security has been beefed up in Maasai Mau forest following information that some residents were planning to resist the looming evictions.

This comes after the Government announced that some 2, 200 families targeted for eviction from the 17,101 acres disputed forest land had moved out voluntarily.

The State had issued them with a 60-day notice to vacate the forest land or face forceful eviction. Thirty days have elapsed since the ultimatum was issued by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya.

Acting Narok County Commissioner Mutuku Mwenga said security officers were on the ground in case of any emerging security threats.

"We have received intelligence information that some people were planning to resist the evictions. None should be cheated by anyone that they can resist eviction.I'm happy that already people are leaving at will," Mr Mwenga told journalists.

Government sources told The Standard in confidence that some local youth had began arming themselves with crude weapons such as bows and arrows as well as machetes. 

The reports, however, jolted the security team to react by deploying more security personnel.

"Our undercover investigations have found that some men after removing their belongings, have gone back to counter the planned operation," a source told The Standard.