Tension as squatters’ houses torched

A man struggles to put out fire in a past incident. In Embobut, KFS officers are accused of torching houses in the forest. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By  FRED KIBOR

KENYA: Tension has gripped Embobut forest after several houses were torched by unknown people even after the Government had issued 21-day eviction notice.

The eviction deadline lapsed late last year. And the squatters living in the area now claim the incident must have been carried out by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in a bid to force the illegal forest dwellers out of the forest. In December last year, the Government issued the eviction notice to enable the squatters move out of the forest after they were compensated.

 Each of the 2,874 squatters received Sh400,000 as compensation to enable them source for alternative land.  Johana Kitum, one of the squatters in the expansive forest, claimed that the (KFS) officers have in the past two days burned down houses in order to compel them to move out of the forest.

“Several houses have been burned down by KFS officers to compel us to move out of the forest,” he alleged. He added, “Majority of us are yet to get alternative land to settle, but the Government is reluctant to extend the eviction notice period.” Kitum expressed fear that the brutality subjected to them five years ago, when they were first evicted from the forest, might repeat itself and called on the Government to consider giving them more time.

“We need more time to enable us get land before moving out, but if we are moved now where will we go to?” he asked. However, Marakwet Ecosystem Conservator, Alfred Nyaswapu, denied the allegation that his officers were responsible for burning down the houses.

“These are sensational statements aimed at unleashing panic to the squatters and there is no operation in the forest at the moment. Our officers are just doing the normal patrols,” he said. Nyaswapu said that 90 per cent of the squatters have moved out of the forest and waiting directive from the headquarters on the next course of action. “The President was categorical the forest should be rehabilitated when he closed the squatters camps last year and we bound by that directive,” he said. Local County Commissioner Arthur Osiya, while reiterating that the eviction notice will not be extended, told The Standard on Saturday that no security operation has taken place.

“We are giving them time to move out of the forest but those who will resist will be dealt with according to the law,” he remarked. He said the squatters have been paid and they should reciprocate the gesture by moving out the forest, adding that nobody will be subjected to brutality. But in a rejoinder, area MP David Kangogo Bowen asked for the extension of eviction notice period, saying the timing would inconvenience the evictees as most of them were struggling to take their children to schools while others were still seeking suitable land to buy.

“The squatters should not be subjected to more suffering but should be given time to find land and also transfer their children to schools outside the forest,” he said.