This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
Located in the heart of Kenya's Rift Valley, the Mau Forest has been a subject of controversy for decades. The recent evictions of the Kipsigis community from the forest have sparked heated debates, with many questioning the motives behind the move.
According to historical records, the Mau Forest was initially a trust land under the defunct Narok County Council. Traditionally, the forest has been inhabited by the Ogiek community. However, due to immigration from other ethnic groups, large parts of the forest area were cleared for settlement.
The forest was set up for destruction by powerful Maasai elite who were allocated thousands of acres of land through group ranches. This was during the Kanu era, in the 1980s and 1990s. The famous Ndungu Report, released in 2004, listed these land allocations as illegal and recommended their revocation.
Despite the report's findings, some evictions were carried out between 2004 and 2006 without a resettlement option. In July 2008, the Kibaki regime, through then-Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ordered another eviction to be effected by October 2008 to protect the forest from destruction. However, the order was opposed by several Rift Valley politicians, led by Isaac Ruto.
Maasai leaders have expressed concerns that the growing Kipsigis population in Narok county may surpass their own population. This concern has led to calls for the Kipsigis to be removed from the county. There have been rumors that the Kipsigis are planning to field one of their own as governor in the county, further fueling tensions.
