More than 100 families living in caves in Mt Elgon are demanding an alternative place to stay after they were evicted from Cheptais forest.
The families have been living in the caves for four years now.
Richard Masinde, a petitioner and an environmentalist said the families are among the 4,000 squatters settled in Cheptais forest by the Kenya Forest Service in 2007.
“After the families were displaced from their homes by the Sabaot Land Defense Force during the 2007 post election violence, Kenya Forest Service offered an alternative space for them to stay,” he said.
However, in 2020, during KFS conservation efforts, the squatters were flushed out of the forest.
The move made them homeless and they decided to settle in caves.
Masinde has now petitioned the Bungoma county assembly and asked them to find an alternative place for the squatters.
He said their current living condition is against the human rights standards.
“I am an environmentalist and I must say that their living conditions are very poor,” Masinde said.
“For us to help these people, the county through the Directorate of Special Programmes should allocate funds and them an alternative place to stay because they aren’t getting the minimum standards of living.”
Chapter Four of the Constitution- The Bill of Rights says every human being is entitled to good housing, education and health.
On Thursday, Masinde and a number of squatters appeared before the assembly's committee of Justice, Cohesion and Legal Affairs to plead their case.
“Our main aim was to persuade the county to give us at least 90 acres to settle the families," he said.
The environmentalist urged the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to intervene and help the squatters get an alternative place.
“We have seen leaders including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua tour Mt Elgon and attend church funds drives but no leader has ever addressed the plight of these families,” Masinde said.
Jacob Psero, Bungoma county assembly Justice, Cohesion and Legal affairs Committee chairperson said the assembly is aware of the plight of the 110 families.
He said their petition is before the committee.
Psero told the Star that the committee will give its response within 60 days after wide consultations.
He urged the families to seek support from other organisations as they wait for the assembly's response.
The squatters expressed optimism that Governor Ken Lusaka's administration will provide a solution.
