Former Bomet governor, Isaac Rutto, on Sunday faulted the govt eviction of settlers in the Maasai Mau trust land.
Rutto, who was appearing on K24 TV’s Punchline show with Anne Kiguta, said the Maasai Mau has not been gazetted as a forest and the 60,000 people being kicked out should be compensated.
Confronted with the findings of a task force created by the former prime minister Raila Odinga into the encroachment of the Maasai Mau, Rutto faulted the team for not writing a memo to the Cabinet that would have formed a basis for a bill to gazette the land as a protected area.
“Maasai Mau is not government land. It is not under the Kenya Forest Service. It is not gazetted as a forest. We have not reached a solution to the Mau issue because every other time a solution is being pushed from the top. I would like a situation in which there is a clear discussion and engagement between the government and local community,” said Rutto.
The former governor said that land from which settlers are being evicted from has three ward representatives, several schools and government-built roads, including one that was officially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“There is a certain area in Maasai Mau that is a catchment area. Do a survey and give us the coordinates. Officially, it is not a water catchment area. It is just a statement,” said Rutto.
But earlier in the day, the Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko insisted that the 60,000 people in the Maasai Mau will be kicked out, a position backed by Raila Odinga.
CS Tobiko was speaking at the burial of the former Transport and Licensing Board chairman, Hassan Ole Kamwaro, a funeral that was attended by the Orange Democratic Movement leader.
In August this year, the government halted the second phase evictions of settlers from the Maasai Mau forest but gave them 60 days to voluntarily vacate the area.
The 60-day notice was given after government administrators were accused of kicking out the settlers inhumanely.
A 10-member task force was also formed, headed by the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya, to over devise a plan for the second phase evictions.
The team comprises members from Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Environment.
War on Corruption
On the war on corruption, the Bomet governor commended the investigative agencies for showing enthusiasm.
Rutto said he has not fallen to the argument that investigative agencies have been targeting Deputy President William Ruto and his allies.
“The war on corruption must be allowed to continue because we must bring sanity to this republic. I have no problem with investigations being done left,right and centre. We do not monopolise corrupt people, they are not just located in the Rift Valley,” said Rutto.
Constitutional change
The Bomet governor said he supports constitutional changes that would introduce a parliamentary system of governance.
“Ugatuzi proposals are quite apt. I instantly believe in the Ugatuzi initiative,” said Rutto.
