Squatters now accuse officers of torching their houses in forest

Some of the houses of families living in a forest.  [PHOTO: file/ STANDARD]

By SILAH KOSKEI

KENYA: Squatters in Embobut forest in Elgeyo/Marakwet County have protested at the alleged torching of their houses by Kenya Forest Service officers in attempts to evict them.

The forest, which has been host to over 25,000 families for over 80 years is currently under scrutiny after President Uhuru Kenyatta gave the families Sh400,000 last year to vacate and find alternative land.

The eviction comes against the backdrop of claims from forest officials that squatters have stayed put in the forest, regarded as one of the key water towers in North Rift.

Pressure is high on forest officers overseeing the protection of the water tower as area leaders put them on the spot for torching squatters houses.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has decried the torching of houses terming it primitive and uncalled for.

He said the eviction and burning of houses takes the country back to the dark days of 1960s and the government should contain the situation by giving squatters time to find alternative land.

“Long before we were born, incidents of torching and evictions were being done in our region and it is a pity that the primitive trend has not ended,” he said.

Mr Murkomen warned against forceful eviction of the residents.

He urged the government to ensure that those who have not been factored in the compensation process get their dues just like their counterparts.

Embobut Member of County Assembly (MCA) Simon Chemugin faulted the government for dishing out money against the wishes of the residents.

He stated that all the residents should benefit from a piece of land and said government was wrong to dish out  money to some families.

He defended the residents from reports in the media that they had squandered the money meant for resettlement.

“The money is not over, the reports that the entire community had squandered money given by the president is a lie, those who might have misused it are considerably few,” he said.

Mr Chemugin condemned the torching of houses in a bid to forcefully evict squatters from the forest.

He said following the expiry of the notice to vacate the forest, many people had been voluntarily relocating.

“In the beginning, the exercise has been peaceful but when officers were deployed to the forests they resorted to forceful eviction,” he added.

He called on the government to give squatters ample time to identify suitable land saying the 21 days vacation notice was not enough.

He blamed the government for unfair awarding of resettlement funds adding that many genuine squatters were locked out of the process.

Only 2,874 families benefited from the resettlement money.

“It was in bad taste to omit landslide victims from Katilit, Marich, Kagison, Kobil, Sewes from Kipchumwa location, who are genuine settlers and award other undeserving individuals,” he stated.

Dispelled claims

North Rift Kenya Forest Service conservationist Solomon Mibei refuted claims that officers were behind the torching of houses in the forest and said squatters were behind the acts.

He said forest officers had been deployed to Embobut to safeguard the forest from encroachment.

“The officers are beefing up security along the forest because squatters have been taking advantage of the eviction to cut trees which is illegal,” he stated.

He dispelled claims of forceful eviction saying they are giving squatters time to vacate the forest. “We are humane and cannot chase away people from their homes they will leave at their own will,” he added.

Mr Stephen Kiptala, the Sengwer elder and former councilor, revealed that a number of squatters are currently camping along the road following the forceful eviction.

He questioned government promises to pay squatters in the second phase of resettlement.

“How can there be a second phase yet you are chasing the same individuals from their homes, where will they go yet they never got the money?” he posed.

He said forest officials should appreciate the time Sengwer squatters have inhabited the area and protected the habitat instead of using force to evict them.

He noted that families in Kaptul, Kacheseger and Kamoi areas did not benefit from resettlement funds.

Mr John Murgala 40 a resident of Embobut forest stated that he never received the resettlement token given by President Kenyatta during his visit to the region last year.

“My parents were born here but I never got the money awarded to genuine squatters,” he said.

He noted that most squatters have failed to secure a piece of land due to exorbitant buying rates from sellers.

“The government should have given us Sh800,000 because one acre is Sh400,000 of the total amount awarded for resettlement without including food and house,” he said.

Environment Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe dispelled claims that the Government has been evicting families from Embobut Forest.

He also warned individuals who have encroached land near rivers to move away immediately to pave way for rehabilitation of water sources.