This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
As the Kenya Forest Service prepares for the second phase of evictions in Nkareta areas of Narok County, at least 4,000 officers have been deployed to ensure a smooth operation.
According to reports, several families living in the Mau Forest have chosen to vacate their homes voluntarily, opting to avoid confrontations with Kenya Forest Service officials.
They claim to be law-abiding citizens who wish to honor the government's directive to move out of the forest, which is set to be fenced off and restored as a water tower.
Regional Commissioner George Natembeya had issued a 60-day voluntary vacation period to those affected, giving them time to relocate before the evictions take place.
Meanwhile, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has urged all leaders across the political divide to support the eviction, citing the need to safeguard the hospitality industry and tourism.
Atwoli emphasized that conservation of the Mau Forest should not be politicized by selfish local leaders, and that environmental conservation should be handled seriously by all leaders in light of the current climate change challenges facing the country.
He also called on all workers across the country to support the government on the eviction, describing it as a national issue that affects the country as a whole, rather than a local affair between the Maasai and Kalenjin communities.
