Narok Senator, Ledama Ole Kina, has accused some political leaders from the Rift Valley region of aiding in the encroachment of the Mau Forest.
Ledama, who was speaking at KTN‘s Pointblank show, on Wednesday, night singled out former Kuresoi South MP, Zakayo Cheruiyot, whom he accused of allocating himself 10,000 acres of land in the water catchment area.
According to Ledama, Cheruiyot needed labour at his extensive farms hence brought in casual workers. Those who were brought in, allegedly, later invited their relatives and that is how they ended up encroaching on the forest.
“Those people did not get there by accident. They were brought in. They were invited by Zakayo Cheruiyot as casual workers in his farms. With time, those people invited their relatives were they started encroaching the land,” maintained Ledama.
Ledama Ole Kina ~ #Pointblank , the people who moved into Maa complex were brought in by politicians
#KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/p01u87RtBD— KTN News Alerts (@KTNNewsKE) September 11, 2019
Despite this, ledama acknowledged that there were also people who purchased the land unaware. He faulted the illegality by some of the group ranches, which he claimed were expanded into the conserved areas.
The senator insisted that he was totally in support of the eviction processes adding that it was the only way the rest of Kenya was going to be saved from any future environmental hazards.
Ledama Ole Kina ~ Zakayo Cheruyoit allocated himself 10,000 acres of land.
He needed labor, people who were brought in could invite their relatives to continue encroaching on the land #KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/OEMafj3C1R— KTN News Alerts (@KTNNewsKE) September 11, 2019
He also dismissed some of the Rift Valley leaders who had been faulting the government over evictions adding, that the Mau issue had nothing to do with the land reconciliation, but rather had everything to do with criminality.
The tough-talking senator rubbished compensation claims by some leaders maintaining that a win-win situation (compensation), which had been given by former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga had already lapsed.
“When there was a lot of money made available by donor agencies to relocate these people who had invaded the forest, there were some laxities in moving out. Nobody should be blamed now,” added Ledama.
Ledama Ole Kina ~ There is a win win situation which had been given by former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
Time for compensation has lapsed#KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/0QqUKzlxTd
— KTN News Alerts (@KTNNewsKE) September 11, 2019
He insisted that all the occupants initially had their original homes where they came from before encroaching the forest.
“If these people did not have a second home you would not be seeing the likes of Kipchumba Murkomen, Aaron Cheruyoit coming out to say we are defending our people,” he observed.
Ledama Ole Kina ~ People are using the Mau complex for commercial activities for example Logging, The children and human shield being used in the Mau is to protect the bourgeoisie#KTNPointblank @TonyGachoka pic.twitter.com/2G0Ou4RBTw
— KTN News Alerts (@KTNNewsKE) September 11, 2019
Among other leaders who have been adversely mentioned for encroaching the land include former President Daniel Moi, who has thousands of land in the forest.
Moi owns Kiptagich tea estate and factory that sits on 2,223.945 acres in Mau. Already, Environment CS Keriako Tobiko has promised that the government will flash out all the ‘Big Fish’ who also invaded the forest noting that nobody will be spared.
The mau issue has threatened to worsen the already deepening cracks within the Jubilee administration. Some of the Rift Valley leaders have come out strongly opposing the evictions terming the process as politically instigated.