Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa has weighed in on the thorny Mau issue.
Speaking during a wide-ranging panel discussion on Citizen TV Monday, the outspoken legislator said that there are genuine titleholders
He called on people who have genuine titles to be compensated.
"...The importance of Mau supersedes all other interests. We must conserve Mau. On the issue of evictees, where there are genuine owners with genuine title deeds, I feel they should be compensated, " Wamalwa said.
Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko insists that there will be no compensation for anyone as there are no genuine title deeds. The CS contends that those with titles acquired the irregularly as the Mau Forest is a gazetted area.
The Environment Ministry announced last week that over 90% of the squatters in the water catchment area had voluntarily vacated the forest, saying that the evictions were done with strict adherence to human rights.
Mau Forest has been at the centre of a tussle between the Environment Ministry and a section of Rift Valley politicians who were strongly opposed to the evictions.
Led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, the Rift Valley politicians warned that evicting the close to 60,000 families said to reside in the forest would result in a humanitarian catastrophe.