This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
Maasai Mau Forest Recovery Efforts Face Resistance ¶
Published on September 9, 2019
The Kenyan government's efforts to recover the Maasai Mau Forest have been met with resistance from squatters who claim they bought the land from the indigenous Ogiek community and Maasai ranch owners.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), only 32,615 hectares of the 400,542 hectares of the Mau Forest Complex have been recovered in the last 20 years.
The forest is an important biodiversity and water catchment hotspot, and a source of 12 rivers. The government's bid to evict illegal forest inhabitants and reclaim the grabbed land in the water towers started in 1990 with little success owing to political pressure.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) senior warden Dickson Ritan said the restoration exercise was on course, but warned that if the degradation of the Maasai Mau is not urgently addressed, it will lead to the drying of two critical rivers, Uaso Ngiro and Amalo tributary.
"We stand to lose a lot in terms of Mara ecosystem where we have Maasai Mara and wildlife, the people downstream will also suffer," he added.
At least 500 families have moved out of the Siera Leone area and another 100 families have vacated the Kitoben area. Mr Ritan urged those who are still in the forest to move out within the stipulated window period, without using force.
"We are not planning to destroy any crops, we won't allow those who destroy the Mau ecosystem in the guise of tending their crops," he said.
