Suspects: Animals made us go back to forest

Nine suspects yesterday stunned an Iten court when they asked for leniency, claiming their livestock 'forced' them to illegally enter Embobut Forest.

The nine had been arraigned before the court to answer charges of entering a Government forest without a permit.

"Your honour, we used to live in this forest and our animals 'prefer' the lush grass inside the forest," one of the suspects said.

However, Iten acting Senior Resident Magistrate Rose Ndombi fined them Sh10,000 each, but they failed to raise the money and will serve a one-month jail term.

Last year, the Government gave the over 2800 illegal settlers Sh400 000 to relocate, but the squatters have since been trooping back to the forest to graze their animals.