Leaders call for humane evictions in the Mau

North Rift leaders have urged the Government to vet people living in the Mau before evicting them.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos (pictured) and MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Swarrup Mishra (Kesses) also asked the State to protect school-going children.

Speaking yesterday in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Mr Sudi said some of the people who were being evicted had title deeds and did not understand why they were being asked to move.

“If they are evicted, then the country should look into ways of ensuring they are compensated," said Sudi.

He urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and ensure the evictions are done in a humane manner.

Mr Tolgos asked the State to handle the Mau issue the same way it handled the Embobut evictions five years ago.

“What is happening in Mau is the same thing that happened in Embobut forest some years ago. People were removed from the forest after compensation," said Tolgos.

"They were offered Sh410,000 each. We request that as the Government evicts people from Mau it should do it fairly."

Mr Mishra promised to donate land to resettle some of the Mau evictees. He said he backed the decision to evict people from Mau so as to conserve the water tower.