No one has monopoly over Mau Forest - Mutai backs Barchok

Kericho Governor Eric Mutai has thrown his weight behind the call by his Bomet counterpart Hillary Barchok to hive off some two Mau Forest blocs from Narok.

Mutai said the entire Mau Forest complex was a shared resource and no one has control of managing it.

"Nobody has a monopoly of operating one single office, Bomet must move ahead and open an office in the county to manage the Forest blocs," Mutai said.

"Mau belongs to us all, it has not been reserved for anyone...in fact as Kericho, we are going to equally demand a say on its management."

Barchok sparked off a debate last week saying the management of Nyangores and Nairotia blocs should be transferred to his county.

Its management is currently under the Narok ecosystem.

According to Barchok, this will go a long way in boosting the conservation efforts of the crucial water tower.

Defending his move, Barchok claimed whenever illegal loggers or charcoal burners are arrested in Bomet they are forced to hand them over to Narok which he argued was wrong.

"The management of the two Forest blocks should fall under the Bomet ecosystem...it is abnormal to have a resource that is in our county being managed from another county," he said.

This, he noted, would enable the local community to be fully involved in the conservation of the ecosystem.

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has voiced his concerns over the emotive issue saying daring Barchok to proceed with the move.

"I see some people daydreaming about the Mau Forest, this is our land and territory…I dare you to transfer its management to Bomet," he said.

Ledama said they are not going to allow the Forest boundaries to be altered.

He went on, "I call upon all Maasai Leaders and environmentalists in Kenya to raise their voices on the Mau Forest issue. This is not a political party issue."

Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu is yet to respond over the matter.