Forest settlers given notice ahead of fresh eviction
Residents of Embobut in Elgeyo-Marakwet County during a meeting with Environment, Water and Mineral Resources Principal Secretary Dr Richard Lesiyampe and their leaders over the resettlement of Embobut Forest evictees on September 17, 2013. Illegal forest settlers in West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties have been issued with eviction notices in the ongoing Embobut forest eviction. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Kenya Forest officials on Tuesday confirmed they had been instructed to remove all illegally settled families from the entire Cherangani ecosystem inside and at the edges of the water tower
- Last week, Embobut forest squatters demanded concurrent eviction fearing that their neighbours in the two counties, living in the same ecosystem, would take advantage of their exit and occupy the deserted areas
Illegal forest settlers in West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties have been issued with eviction notices.
The settlers will not be spared in the ongoing Embobut forest eviction that is administratively under the neighbouring Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Kenya Forest officials on Tuesday confirmed they had been instructed to remove all illegally settled families from the entire Cherangani ecosystem inside and at the edges of the water tower.
“We have already issued a fresh 21-day notice in West-Pokot County to squatters in Kapenguria, Lelan and Kamalagon forest sections of the Cherangani ecosystem,” said Gabriel Kariuki, the conservation official in charge of West Pokot County.
He added that the eviction will be concurrent with that in Embobut.
Those illegally occupying the sections include the Pokot and a few Seng’wer communities and they have already been informed of the planned eviction, said Mr Kariuki.
Settlers in Kabolet section in Trans Nzoia County would not be spared, according to a Kenya Forest Service circular.
Reacting to claims that some groups had been left out of the Sh1.1 billion government compensation for former Embobut settlers, Mr Kariuki said resettlement matters were not within the KFS mandate.
Last week, Embobut forest squatters demanded concurrent eviction fearing that their neighbours in the two counties, living in the same ecosystem, would take advantage of their exit and occupy the deserted areas.
They have been assured that all the settlers would be removed.
