Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has in a surprising move claimed that the Mau Forest Complex is not a water catchment zone.
The leader is part of the Kalenjin communities opposed to the planned eviction of settlers in the forest by the government.
Speaking on Sunday, he claimed that Mau, despite being the source of several rivers, is not a water catchment zone in the country.
"Officially, Mau is not a water catchment area, this is just a statement," he said, arguing that the forest is not gazetted as such yet.
The Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) leader made the remarks on K24's Punchline show on Sunday night.
He added that the current evictions are therefore illegal, as the state through the Environment ministry has no basis to order the people out.
He claimed that until the proper legal procedure is taken to gazette the forest as a protected area, then the government has no business ordering people out.
"They should gazette it as a protected area. Once the government declares it a water catchment area then we can proceed with compulsory acquisition," he said.
He also criticized the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), which has also deployed officers to help with the evictions, of illegally disrupting people's lives.
"As of now, KFS has no business interfering with people's loves," he added.
A section of area leaders have claimed that the settlers arw legal land owners, who have documents to prove they purchased the land.
But on the other hand, leaders from the Maasai community have endorsed the evictions, stressing on the need to preserve the Environment.