The 46,000-hectare Maasai Mau evictions have renewed the political rivalry between Deputy President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga political rivalry as allies of the two clashed over the boundary between the forest and the settlement area.
The over 10 legislators drawn from the Rift Valley defended DP Ruto’s eviction of those who were living beyond the 2015 tea buffer zone created by the Jubilee administration but were opposed to the implementation of the Mau Task Force report, completed in 2008.
“We are dismayed over what is happening here. President Uhuru Kenyatta swore to protect the rights of all Kenyans and we fully support his move to create the cut line but we wonder why some people who have title deeds and living in the settlement area are being harassed,” said Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen.
The 2015 cut line where the Nyayo tea zone has planted purple tea in a 25km area creating a buffer zone was established two years after Jubilee administration took over power in a bid to resolve the perennial evictions but it seems the matter is still far from over.
Opposition leaders comprised mainly of Maasai leaders are opposed to the use of the tea zone cut line and instead are pushing for the use of the implementation of the 2008 report, saying the 2015 cut line was illegal.
A month ago, DP Ruto while addressing residents at Sogoo in Narok South ordered those who had encroached beyond the tea zone to move out adding that the ‘legal’ settlers inhabiting within the cut line will be issued with title deeds.
He also said the government had allocated Sh100Million to rebuild 15 schools that were demolished during the 2005 Olposimoru forest eviction s and announcement that now seems to haunt him.
The Mau Complex has been a political hot potato and in 2013 the matter was used against Raila in Rift Valley for allegedly orchestrating the eviction of the members of the Kipsigis community who ironically had supported him almost to man in the 2007 election.
It however remains to be seen whether the politics of the Mau this time, will also have an impact on Ruto's 2022 presidential bid.
This even as Senator Kipchumba Murkomen accused former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for pushing for the use of the 2008 boundary which he spearheaded for more members of DP Ruto supporters to curtail his 2022 bid.
“The 2015 cut line was created by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government. We know that there are some government officials working in cahoots with some people who recently joined us to ensure DP’s succession bid does not come true. We know your gimmicks,” said Murkomen.
The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator said as Rift Valley leader they support forest conservation ‘100 percent’ that is why they were asking those who had crossed the tea zone to move out.
This was however contrary to what DP Ruto told those living in the area three weeks ago when he visited and warned them to leave on their volition or be forcefully evicted.
The Jubilee leaders have now called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and resolve the matter saying the evictees voted Jubilee to man thus deserve to be treated with the dignity they deserve.
“If it is about 2022, please do not use our people’s lives to play politics. Majority of these people have title deeds. Why are they rushing to destroy their homes yet we are in government and we as leaders are ready to chart way forward?” posed Belgut MP Nelson Koech.
So far, the government has secured about 12,000 hectares, over 1,700 temporary structures as 7,082 people are kicked out of the 46,000-hectare Maasai Mau forest at the close of the first face of the eviction operation.
With the March 9 handshake between Odinga and President Kenyatta, it remains to be seen where the Presidents soft spot lies between the two sides.
