The government will evict all encroachers who have invaded the Mau Forest, President William Ruto has said.
Ruto said that they will not allow individuals to destroy the leading water tower at the expense of many people who depend on it.
He spoke after attending the funeral service of Mzee Titame ole Sankei at Olopirik in Narok West constituency, Narok county on Saturday.
Ruto said that if the issue is left unchecked, it will affect the livelihood of many people downstream who depend on the forest.
"We must protect all the 10 water towers to fight climate change and other environment-related challenges," Ruto said.
"The government would plant and regenerate trees in the forest to restore the degraded resources."
He asked the security agencies to put measures and evict the illegal settlers currently occupying the forest but they must do so in a humane manner.
The President also revealed that the evictees removed from the forest will get alternative land.
Ruto also said as part of protecting all the forests, the government will soon employ more Kenya Forest Service personnel to assist in forest surveillance.
His sentiments come at a time when Rift Valley Region Commissioner Abdi Hassan revealed that about 23, 000 hectares of Maasai Mau forest were encroached by illegal encroachers.
Hassan accused the officers of collaborating with the encroachers who cut down trees under their watch to open up farming land, hence threatening the existence of the mega water catchment land.
The encroached land, he said, is half of the forest land as the total forest area is 46, 000 hectares.
In attendance were governors Narok Governor Ole Ntutu, Joseph ole Lenku (Kajiado), Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, MPs Johana Ngeno(Emurua Dikirr) and Tongoyo (Narok West).
Others were Kitilai ole Ntutu (Narok South), Ken Aramat(Narok East), Richard Yegon (Bomet East), Rebecca Tonkei (Narok Women Representative), David ole Sankok (EALA) and nominated Senator Joyce Korir, former Narok governor Samuel Tunai, former Narok South MP Korei ole Lemein and former Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat.
