• State reclaims more than 11,119 acres illegally encroached east side of Mau Forest complex.
• The operation started on June 27 involving 100 officers from KFS and the Kenya Police Service.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
The government has secured more than 11,119 acres illegally encroached from the Eastern side of the Mau Forest complex.
The Kenya Forest Service is undertaking a multi-agency operation to flush out encroachers and reclaim Logoman, Sururu, Likia, Kiptunga, Mariashoni, Nessuit, Baraget and Oleposmoru forests within the complex.
The operation started June 27 and involves 100 officers from KFS and the Kenya Police Service.
The aim is to stop all illegal human activities in these government forests.
Environment CS Keriako Tobiko has said the Maasai Mau was the most critical ecosystem "yet it is now on death bed following massive destruction”.
On Monday, Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya told the Star on the phone the operation was going well.
He said more than 900 illegal structures have been destroyed.
“There has been no resistance as most of them knew that it is forest land. They have been waiting,” Natembeya said.
Natembeya said the government will do everything possible to ensure the remaining forests are conserved for future generation.
Forests provide many benefits such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification and maintenance of wildlife habitat.
KFS said illegal fencing has been destroyed and 3,803 illegally acquired cedar posts seized.
KFS removed one bow and five arrows.
Three suspects were arrested while transporting cedar posts and bamboo and one motorcycle was seized.
As evictions gained momentum, Nakuru leaders cried foul, urging the government to suspend them.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika said the exercise must be stopped before surveyors are deployed to map out the cutline.
Njoro MP Charity Chepkwony asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop any evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Evictions from the Mau complex took place in July and August 2018 and affected 2,400 settlers in Nkoben and Kass FM areas.
A profile of families done in 2010 found that 716 people had title deeds, while 4,439 had allotment letters and sale agreements.
Some 2,741 had no documents to support their claims to forest land.
(Edited by V. Graham)