A section of leaders from Rift Valley including Governors, Senators and Members of Parliament have requested President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and stop the eviction of people from Mau Forest in Narok South.
The leaders also reminded the President that he had made a vow to protect legitimate landowners in Narok South against evictions.
They argued that legitimate landowner should be protected as a discussion on whether there shall be legal compensation in the event that they are evicted continue.
Daily Nation reports that the leaders pointed out that a good number of the residents had been forcefully evicted from their homes as 14 schools were closed. They also alleged that there was brutality in the eviction which resulted in the destruction of property.
“Events of the last two months have baffled us, with the provincial administration ordering evictions and with statements of no compensation,” Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony stated on behalf of the leaders at Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi as quoted by Daily Nation
The leaders further said that efforts to meet the President or his deputy, William Ruto have been fruitless.
“Since these unfortunate statements were made, we have sought the intervention of, or a meeting with, the President, his deputy and the minister of environment but all our efforts have been in vain,” Chepkwony noted.
They said they will record violation of fundamental rights of those who were being evicted and follow up on them.
Some of the leaders who attended the meeting include; Governors Jackson Mandago, Stanley Kiptis, Senators Aron Cheruiyot, Kipchumba Murkomen and Christopher Langat among others.