Harsh conditions takes toll on Mau evictees

By Phillip Ruto and Titus Too

Twenty-five evictees from the Mau Forest were on Monday treated at Kiptagich dispensary of chest-related complications.

According to the nurse-in-charge of the dispensary Naomi Koskei many of the patients displayed symptoms that resulted from harsh conditions in the tents they were living in.

Most of the patients were old women and men who also complained of hunger.

And a middle-aged woman was admitted at Olenguruone sub-district hospital after she miscarried.

The nurse said the woman suffered from shock and anxiety that might have led to the miscarriage.

The 25 were treated for chest complications and discharged. They are said to have gone back to their camps in Kipkongor and Kurpanyat.

When The Standard visited two camps where 800 families are living, several others were complained of health problems.

One of the evictees Grace Rono said they had not received any medical aid. She said they have not been provided with food rations and were sleeping in makeshift structures that are not properly roofed.

Fair treatment

At the same time Kenya Forest Service Rangers continued to flush out squatters from the forest and demolished structures.

However, one of the rangers, who did not want to be named, said they allowed the evictees to go back to their homes to collect food.

Meanwhile, Eldoret Catholic Church Diocese Bishop Cornelius Korir has asked the Government to treat Mau evictees fairly.

Korir said the Government should seek alternative land and compensate families moved from the forest to enable them start life afresh.

"All Kenyans should be treated equally. The Government should not evict its people and abandon them by the roadside," said Korir.

The Bishop said as much as the Church supported environmental conservation efforts, the Government should be fair to all and plan for their relocation before moving families from water towers.

Korir was speaking during Sunday mass at Chepterit Catholic Church in Nandi Central District.