Cotu against resettling squatters in Mau Forest

NAIROBI: A trade union has criticised reports on plans to excise part of the Mau Forest to resettle the landless. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli termed the plan as retrogressive, selfish and an effort to erase gains made in environment conservation. "Reports on the decision by the Cabinet to approve the excision of 17,000 hectares of Mau Forest land to be given out to individuals that have illegally occupied the forest over the years are disturbing and pose the biggest threat ever to Kenya's environmental conservation efforts," Atwoli said yesterday in a statement. He noted State should be aware that allocating such huge chunk of the forest to individuals will spell doom and an end to Maasai Mara National Reserve that earns the country billions in revenue.