State given 30 days in Mau evictees' case

Mau evictees who want Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to urgently constitute a bench to hear and determine their case, will wait until October 8 for the land court in Nakuru to give further directions.

The evictees, through a petition suing the government, claim they were removed from Mau Forest in 1941 by colonialists.

They want to be issued with alternative land or titles. Justice Sila Munyao yesterday gave the State 30 days to respond to the petition.

Through their lawyer Kipkoech Ngetich, the evictees want the case referred to CJ is because the petition raises issues on interpretation of fundamental freedoms and rights.

Apart from claims of continued harassment by government officials where they are currently residing in Olenguruone, they claim the evictions that took place under the commander-in-chief of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya Henry Monck-Mason Moore, were inhumane.