By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI
Families living in Mau forest now want the Jubilee Government to facilitate their compensation or look for alternative land to resettle them.
Speaking separately yesterday, representatives of about 15,000 families that are laying claim on 146,800 hectares in Masai Mau Forest called for speedy resolution of the issue.
“Now that we will be having a Government which will not be a coalition, we expect speedy resettlement or compensation commensurate with market prices,” said the families spokesperson, Mr William Cheruiyot.
He added: “The Kibaki administration was bedeviled by infighting between the ODM and PNU political divide, which was advanced as the main reason why our plight could not be addressed. We are tired after more than 12 years of waiting.”
The settlers who have title deeds for the parcels of land in the forest said valuation was done by the Lands ministry and wondered why the Kibaki Government failed to compensate or resettle them elsewhere.
Cheruiyot who read the press statement to journalists in Narok town yesterday urged the Government to fast track the resettlement to avert further destruction and warned that more squatters have invaded the forest since last year.
Last week, the Narok South DC Chimwaga Mongo directed those who do not have title deeds to move out of the forest or face forceful eviction.
