Government has failed to save Mau, group claims

By Kipchumba Kemei

The Government has been accused of reneging on its promise to save Mau Forest Complex from further destruction.

Conservationists claim illegal logging is still going on in the forest and demanded the immediate eviction of about 40,000 families living on the 22 blocks forming the complex.

They said the Government appeared not committed to conserve the forest and wondered why Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has been spearheading its rehabilitation, has now gone quiet.

Speaking in Narok on Sunday, Friends of Mau Forest and Save Mau Now led by their spokespersons Jackson Kamuye and Sammy Kiok urged the PM to launch a fresh campaign to save the forest.

"Constitutional matters seem to have consigned conservation prospects to the periphery. We should remain focused on saving our vital water catchments," said Mr Kamuye.

He added: "Now that constitution making is behind us, it is time to evict all families in the forest. The Government should act now."

He also wondered what became of the pledge by donor agencies to rehabilitate the complex, saying rivers like the Mara River, which emanate from the forest, were on the verge of drying up.

They pledged to hold peaceful demonstrations, beginning next week to press for action to save the forest.

The group also claimed security forces detailed to protect the forest, had relaxed, paving the way for further destruction.

Mau Forest Steering Committee Chairman Hassan Noor has said the PM office spends Sh500,000 monthly, to maintain the personnel drawn from KWS, Kenya Forest Service and Administration Police.

Mr Noor says the Government is still profiling the forestland beneficiaries before securing it before the end of the year.

He recently said the settlers would be compensated for land and infrastructural development.

The forest settlers led by their dpokesperson William Cheruiyot reacted angrily to the calls by the conservationists for them to be evicted.

"We want to be given Sh150,000 for an acre land. We will not accept anything less than that," said Cheruiyot of Sierra Leone settlement.