This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 21, 2019, a contingent of 70 police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) arrived in Narok South, aboard three lorries and several Land Cruiser vehicles, to maintain law and order during the Maasai Mau evictions.
Narok South Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu confirmed the deployment, stating that the officers would patrol the areas designated for evictions to keep law and order and assist those who are willingly moving out.
"The officers arrived two days ago and they will be patrolling the area designated for evictions to keep law and order and actually assist those people who are willingly moving out to do so," said Mr Kisalu.
According to Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya, 70 percent of the settlers have moved out of the forest with less than 40 days left to comply with the 60-day notice issued by the government for illegal occupants to vacate the forest.
Mr Natembeya warned that a swoop would be carried out this week to flush out a group of youths who are being incited by politicians to disrupt the eviction, and who are allegedly armed with bows and arrows and guns.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko had ruled out any compensation for those who had been evicted from the Mau Forest, stating that they had illegally occupied it.
