Eviction plan stirs protests
Rift Valley
By
James Munyeki
| Feb 07, 2019
Residents have protested at a plan to gazette Marura area as a wetland.
Making the announcement last week, Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko said his ministry was also targeting Manguo in Nyahururu.
Over 1,000 families may be evicted if the government pushes through its plan.
Residents of Marura have expressed fears that they would lose their land.
They have vowed to stay put, arguing that the Government had given them title deeds for their land.
READ MORE
Go back to work, Ruto tells striking doctors
Doctors dare government, vow to go on with strike for the long haul
Striking doctors demands are unfair, unaffordable, says SRC
Ghosts of 2017 UhuRuto-doctors CBA deal returns to haunt Ruto
Doctors' strike continues to bite as patients suffer slow services
'Expect nothing else' Ruto tells doctors as KMPDU strike enters week 4
Court dismisses Anne Njeri's Sh17b diesel claim against KPC
Hotel to pay Chinese tourist Sh417m over death of wife
El Nino aftermath: 174 dead, seven counties at risk of food insecurity
Businesswoman Anne Njeri at pains to prove ownership of Sh17b oil cargo
One of the residents, John Serem, accused the Government of trying to intimidate the residents.
He dismissed claims that the area was a wetland and asked the Government to keep off.
"This is the home all of us have known for the 30 years we have lived here. Where does the Government want us to go? Furthermore, the question we are asking is; why did the Government issue us with title deeds if it was aware that this was a wetland?" Mr Serem asked yesterday.
The area governor, Ndiritu Muriithi, assured residents they would not be evicted.
He said that proper channels would be followed in ensuring that areas considered to be wetlands were conserved.