Tread carefully on Mau evictions, DP William Ruto warned

An aerial view of land cultivated by squatters in Mau Forest. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

KERICHO COUNTY: Political leaders from the South Rift are sharply divided over the government’s new initiative to save the Mau Forest.

Some leaders are warning that if the plans to evict illegal settlers backfires, it might cost Deputy President William Ruto a vital voting bloc in his Rift Valley backyard. Others have, however, asked the DP not to give up the push to reclaim the forest, saying it will be a political plus for him.

Speaking during a funds drive at Maasai Girls High School last week, Ruto ordered an immediate end to destruction of the Mau Forest and promised that squatters would be given alternative land.

“The Government will give alternative land to the remaining squatters in the Mau to completely resolve this issue,” he said.

The DP said the Jubilee Government recognises the importance of Mau as a water tower which ought to be protected like the Aberdares and Mt Kenya forests. He said after a forest cut line is introduced, the Nyayo Tea Zone would be extended to cover the perimeter of the endangered forest to protect it from further encroachment.

It is estimated that there are 25,000 people who have legally or illegally settled in Mau East and West forests.

Ruto’s directive is likely to put him on a collision path with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto who has openly opposed the move. The governor has warned tha the eviction, if not well handled, would herald a political backlash.

Prior to the Deputy President’s directive, Ruto and his Narok counterpart Samuel ole Tunai had told off the Government over the planned eviction of settlers from Olpusimoru area. The two leaders were reacting to an eviction notice issued by Narok County Commissioner Kassim Farah to the 500 families who have illegally settled in the forest.

Members of the Kipsigis community, the main occupants of the water-catchment area, have also opposed the directive, saying they settled in the forest legally. Local leaders have also cautioned the Deputy President over the eviction, saying the move was causing panic among residents.

A number of the families settled in Olpusimoru migrated from Bomet County.

But Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat dismissed the claims that another Mau eviction will lead to a political backlash, saying the issue would no longer cause division between the Kalenjin and the Maasai.

He promised members of the Kipsigis community that the eviction will be executed with a “human face” contrary to the one spearheaded by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in 2005.

Human face

“The Raila team failed because it carried out the eviction without considering issues agreed upon by relevant committees of the Tenth Parliament,” said the MP.

Other MPs from the region have welcomed the government’s decision to remove settlers from the forest but cautioned that such an exercise might hurt Jubilee’s political support in the South Rift region, which voted overwhelmingly for President Uhuru Kenyattta and his deputy in the last year’s general election.

Bernard Bett (Bomet East), Ken Kiloku (Narok East), Patrick Ntutu (Narok West) and Moitalel Ole Kenta (Narok North) warned that if the eviction and resettlement are not carried out in a humane manner, it may turn out to be the Deputy President’s Achilles heel. They reminded him that previous governments have failed to address the Mau issue and should Ruto help find a lasting solution, he will have gained significantly politically.

Bett said he would support the eviction only if affected families are properly compensated. He said Ruto should not repeat the mistake made by the Grand Coalition Government by evicting settlers before alternative land to resettle them has been found.

Compensation issue

“The idea of moving out settlers is laudable but the Deputy President should ensure that he settles them elsewhere. It is common knowledge that those living there bought their land from hard earned money and should be compensated,” he said.

The MP, however, dismissed those arguing that a new round of Mau evictions might destroy the Deputy President, saying that the issue is being handled by the Parliamentary Committee on Land.

“If these people are told to leave, then they must be given adequate time to move out and properly settled elsewhere. Titles must be recognised as legitimate. If Ruto finds a solution to this issue, his political star will shine even brighter,” said Bett.

Kenta insists that settlers must leave the forest land because more than three million people depend on the Mau ecosystem. He said the DP’s bold statement will not only show him as a true statesman, but also as a leader who seeks practical solutions.

“The wildlife at the Maasai Mara depend on water from the Mau Forest. Destroying these forests means we are seriously destroying our tourism sector. As a leader, Ruto has a duty to tell the people the truth,” he said.

He further accused governors Ruto and Tunai of playing politics with a very sensitive issue and warned other leaders against tribalising the issue. “We did not elect the Jubilee administration so as to allow people to destroy the forest. The economy of Narok and the entire country depends on the wellbeing of the Mau ecosystem,” he said.

Kiloku and Ntutu said Ruto has come out as a courageous leader who will not shy away from confronting the challenges that face Kenyans. “We have had consultations with a view of having an agreeable solution. He has brought on board leaders because he does not want to make the same mistakes Raila made. This will be a plus for the DP,” said Kiloku.

The attempt by the Grand Coalition Government to evict illegal settlers from Mau turned into a political nightmare for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The political storm created by the eviction was to work in favour of Ruto in the 2013 General Election, propelling him to become the Rift Valley political kingpin and eventually the Deputy President.

Leaders from the Maasai community say there should be no compromise over the eviction. Ruto received the support of the Former Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama who dismissed leaders opposed to the eviction as “backward”.

Kenya’s interest

Ntimama, a long time defender of the rights of the Maasai community, said the government should not allow a few individuals to destroy one of the largest water-catchment areas in East Africa.

Narok County Assembly Majority leader Stephen Kudate believes the conservation of the Mau Forest supersedes other political interests. Kudate said the government should implement the planned eviction and resettlement administratively.

One time powerful Narok County Council chairman Kelena ole Nchoe told off those opposed to the eviction of illegal settlers in the Mau, saying conserving the water catchment area serves the interests of all Kenyans.

Nchoe, who chairs the Enkare-Narok Resource Users Association, said the forest was key to the survival of the tourism industry that is the backbone of Narok County economy. “Without Mau there will be no Masai Mara Game Reserve,” he said.