On Sunday, hundreds of Mau dwellers left the water tower voluntarily. The locals have decided to vacate the forest reserve as the government remains adamant that everyone occupying the water catchment area must leave.
Affected Kenyans were seen leaving with their property. Cattle and other personal effects were among the items seen with the Mau dwellers as they vacated the area.
The evictions have attracted political rhetoric with several leaders from Rift Valley condemning the evictions. Some have even alleged that poor Kenyans are being targeted yet some politicians own huge chunks of land in the forest.
People leaving Mau on Sunday 1, September [Source/Amos Kiok/Emoo FM]
Speaking on Saturday, veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere dared Environment CS Keriako Tobiko to start by evicting former presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi before turning to innocent Kenyans.
"Let Tobiko evict Moi and Kenyatta before evicting the others if he is indeed a man (Tobiko kama ni mwanaume afurushe Moi, kisha Kenyatta, ndio afurushe hawa wadogo)," Koigi said.
Speaking at a press conference at Serena Hotel on Sunday, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot expressed his disappointment with how President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto have handled the issue. He said the two leaders need to protect those who voted for them in the areas said to be forest land.
“I want to know from the President and his deputy whether they have changed their public position on this issue,” said the Kericho Senator said as reported by K24.