MPs give State ultimatum to settle Mau evictees

By Edwin Makiche and Leonard Korir

A section of MPs from South Rift have given the Government a one-week ultimatum to resettle the Mau evictees or they move to court.

Led by Energy Assistant Minister Magerer Langat, the legislators said the Government was taking too long to purchase land for the evictees yet the money has long been disbursed to the Ministry of Lands.

Mr Langat blamed Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office for dragging implementation of the Mau taskforce report hence his decision to bolt out of the ad hoc committee alongside Sotik MP Joyce Laboso and Home Affairs Assistant Minister Beatrice Kones.

“We cannot take ages discussing the purchase of land for evictees yet nothing is forthcoming. We cannot pretend to be loyal when the fundamental rights of our people are being taken for granted. It is time we speak for the voiceless,” said Langat.

Speaking at St Catherine’s Catholic Church in Bomet East constituency, Langat dismissed reports that he and other MPs allied to the PM were about to defect to other parties.

Constitutional right

They said they were not plotting defections and reiterated that they were there to stay in the party, adding that issues of resettlement should be separated from politics.

“This is not a request but a constitutional right of all Kenyans,” he added. Speaking during the same function, Ms Kones said they would fight for the rights of the people within the party and challenged leaders from the region to put aside the ir political differences and unite in fighting for the welfare of the community.

Ms Laboso said the country cannot go to polls when there were thousands of IDPs including the Mau evictees still at camps.  Other leaders who attended the function included Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat and former East Africa Cooperation minister John Koech.