THE government should immediately stop evicting settlers from the Mau Forest, Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has said.
Rutto said the evictions carried out by Kenya Forest Service are inhumane and against the law.
“The Jubilee administration is evicting families and leaving them in the cold without compensation,” he said.
"They promised during campaigns that people will not be evicted inhumanly like in 2005."
The governor was speaking on Saturday during a burial in Nkorinkori, Narok West constituency.
Rutto said he supports the restoration of the forest but the government should not "harass families".
He said it was sad that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have ordered the eviction of the families.
“Now that we are in power we cannot turn around and betray the people who have stood with us over the years," Rutto said.
"Let’s not forget that these are the same people whose support we will be seeking in the next polls."
Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno said the government should be held fully responsible for the "inhumane" evictions.
“What kind of government burns people’s houses? The government should be held responsible for this,” he said.
The MP urged Narok county commissioner Arthur Osiya to "go slow" on Mau evictions and avoid "being used by politicians".
