Forceful eviction of Mau Forest Complex encroachers is expected after the two-month ultimatum given to settlers elapsed on Thursday.
The government has vowed that over 10, 000 families living in the regional water tower must leave so that a tree planting exercise can commence.
The evictions have raised political temperatures in the Rift Valley, forcing political leaders to come out and seek audience with President Uhuru Kenyatta over the issue.
In a press conference on Thursday, the leaders termed evictions in Mau a humanitarian crisis and asked the President to end what they described as 'guerrilla-like operation against innocent unarmed citizens'.
Interestingly, Deputy President William Ruto has remained tight-lipped over the evictions despite intense pressure from leaders in his backyard to comment on the issue.
The Mau forest conflict has been a thorn in the flesh to the DP since the Grand Coalition government when the first evictions were conducted.
In 2011, Ruto, who was then Member of Parliament for Eldoret North, was accused of being behind the illegal settlement of squatters in the forest, allegations he vehemently denied.
He exonerated himself from the issue and pointed an accusing finger at retired President Daniel arap Moi and the late former Cabinet Minister William Ole Ntimama.
"When Mau was being distributed, I was in school and Moi and Ntimama, who were working together, can answer these questions better," the DP said then.
Ntimama, who died in September 2016, was then serving as Culture and Heritage Minister in the retired President Mwai Kibaki's government.
According to political analyst Herman Manyora, the DP has lately remained silent over the Mau issue due to the dilemma he has found himself in.
“Ruto is in a serious dilemma. The Mau evictions are emotive and will remain so. How he will handle the current situation will determine whether he becomes the country’s fifth president or not," he said.
By opposing the evictions, Manyora argued, the DP would risk falling out with Uhuru who has given orders to flush out illegal settlers from the forest.
The university don further said Ruto has no option of supporting the evictions since he is the political kingpin of Rift Valley and is expected to protect 'his people'.