Senator Kipchumba Murkomen’s house among those to be demolished in Embobut

Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen. [PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE]

BY FRED KIBOR

ITEN: A four- bedroomed house belonging to Elgeyo Marakwet’s County senator Kipchumba Murkomen is among the structures to be demolished by the government as it aims to revive Embobut Forest.

Kenya Forest Service (KFS) zonal manager Alfred Nyaswobu revealed that Murkomen’s house in Sitaat shopping centre is situated within the forest land to be reclaimed though did not state if it will be demolished or not.

The government on Monday last week set in to demolish houses belonging to forest evictees who had vacated the forest land. Several sections of the forest including Simen and Kamalagon have been cleared with around 1000 houses being burnt.

It has not been clear to the locals on which forest boundaries the government is considering while reclaiming the natural resource. Nyaswabu however stated that old boundaries had not been reviewed but those living below the main road from Tirap to Embobut will be temporarily spared in the eviction.

“This does not however mean that individuals should start settling in the regions that will be temporarily spared, we are had just allowed those who had already settled to remain as we deliberate on the official map,” said Nyaswabu.

According to Nyaswabu the forest belongs to the people and that KFS is just charged with the mandate to protect the water tower for the benefit of the whole community and the public needs not to perceive them as enemies.

Houses in the forest continue to be razed even as local leaders criticized the burning of houses saying it was archaic and inhumane.

Area senator Kipchumba Murkomen called for the suspension of burning houses and asked the state to embrace other better ways of executing the exercise.