This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
On September 3, 2019, the government issued a directive to evict settlers from the Mau forest, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from various leaders in the region.
Maasai leaders, including Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, have come out in support of the directive, arguing that it is necessary to restore the Mau forest as a water tower.
Lenku, who has been a vocal supporter of the eviction, stated that the issue of Mau is not negotiable and that people must move out of the forest for the sake of the country.
He also criticized a group of Rift Valley leaders who he claimed were inciting some of their kinsmen not to leave the Mau, saying that they were protecting the interests of their powerful friends who own land in Mau illegally.
Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina also weighed in on the issue, stating that the government should not compensate individuals who own ranches in Mau, as the title deeds are dubious.
The government has given the Mau settlers up to October 3 to move out of the water tower, with approximately 60,000 families targeted for eviction.
