This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Kenya: Isaac Ruto Says Mau Forest Eviction Has No Legal Backing ¶
Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has expressed his opposition to the government's eviction of 60,000 squatters from the Mau Forest, stating that the move has no legal backing.
According to Mr Ruto, the land occupied by the squatters is neither gazetted as a forest nor a water catchment area under the Kenya Forestry Service.
Mr Ruto, who has been involved in talks to resolve the forest dispute over the past 10 years, believes the government is illegally interfering with people's land.
"I have been against issues being pushed down from the top because I'd like a situation of clear discussion and engagement between the government and the local community," he said in an interview with K24 TV on Sunday.
Mr Ruto pointed out that the government's actions are not in line with the 2009 report by ODM leader Raila Odinga's task force, which noted that there is a distinction between the land available for settlement, part of which went to group ranches, forested land, and water catchment areas to be conserved for the common good.
However, Mr Ruto argued that this was just an opinion of the taskforce, which should have been acted upon to show which areas of the Maasai Mau are critical for water-catchment.
"The government operates by law. If the statement was true, it would have been tabled in Parliament and developed as a Bill for enactment," Mr Ruto said.
He also stated that the government should have issued a gazette notice declaring the Maasai Mau as a protected area due to its ecological importance.
Mr Ruto's comments come as the government has given the squatters a 60-day window to leave the water tower by October 31 and surrender all illegally acquired title deeds.
Phase one of the evictions, which saw 12,000 illegal settlers removed, was centred in the Reiya Group Ranch, with the KFS stating that more than 2,000 squatters deserved compensation.
Mr Ruto believes that all these numbers were understated then because there was no proper profiling.
"Even the 60,000 isn't correct. This is an area with three MCAs, schools, assistant chiefs, and several government infrastructure. Where should all these people migrate to?" he asked.
