60,000 families to be affected by the Mau forest evictions

The second phase of the mau forest eviction is on the go as the Kenya Forest Service rangers move into the forest in preparation for yet another round of evictions.

The settlers have been given 60 days notice to pave way for the restoration of the mau by October 31st. This is the first step to the realization of Cabinet Secretary Keraiko Tobiko’s announcement to refurbish the land.

100 KFS officers have been dispatched to three camps in the forest to carry out the second phase of the evictions. the first phase of eviction took place 14 years ago in Narok south where 15 schools were demolished and thousands of families evicted.

The move is however being opposed by some Rift Valley leaders and thirty five lawyers. Nairobi based advocates Moses Kurgat, Hillary Sigei and South Rift Law Society of Kenya chairman Kipngetich Korir have moved to court to secure orders against the eviction until the case is heard and undaunted.

In the new case the 11 respondents issued with the order include the Cabinet secretaries for Environment, Interior, Education, the TSC, the Narok County government, Kenya Forest Service, Inspector General of Police, Director Department of Civil Registration and the Regional Commisioner, Rift Valley. Environment and Lands court judge Silas Munyao has directed that the case be heard on wednsday in Kitale.

if the evictions are sanctioned more than 10,000 school children will be affected, including 1000 candidates that are set to sit their national at the end of the year.