Tension continues to grow within the Maasai Mau Forest in Nandi County ahead of the forceful evictions of encroachers.
While some of the targets have begun leaving voluntarily to avoid the wrath of officers deployed to do the job forcefully, others have vowed to stay, claiming that they don't have anywhere to go to.
But details indicate that as much as the locals fear the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and police officers, the officers are also a bit shaken.
On Thursday, for instance, police officers were struck by fear when locals surrounded one of their camps near the forest demanding answers behind their eviction and their fate.
Afraid of possible retaliation, the police officers were forced to call for backup, with the police now assembling their forces in preparation for the possible resistance.
The settlers are insisting that they are legitimate landowners and have all the documents, even though it is clear that most are inside the forest after destroying the boundary marks.
“We have titles and all the documents they are asking for, but they are now saying they are fake. Do they want us to produce those made from gold before they accept them?”said Mr Kendiye who says he has lived in Mau for over 20 years.
The KWS and KFS have since directed them to present their papers for scrutiny, further insisting that the eviction will be done in a humane manner.
“We will be as humane as possible in the eviction exercise. The second phase targets about 9,000 hectares,” Mwangi Muraguri, a KFS conservator told the Nation.