Civil society groups support move to conserve water tower
@benagitau
The Network of Civil Societies Group has supported government’s move to evict people who grabbed land in Mau Forest, terming the natural resource as the backbone of Kenya’s water tower.
Vice chair Rodgers Mogaka warned politicians from Rift Valley against politicising the issue, adding that their actions in calling on settlers to stay put amount to incitement.
“It is clear that the forest has been encroached and is being destroyed and therefore, politicians should stop inciting those living in the forest,” he said.
The network of civil societies said it supports the government’s efforts to evict people from the forestland.
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect and conserve Mau irrespective of the circumstances thereon,” he added.
The chairman of Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance Elijah Sikona opposed any call to have grabbers compensated.
“The government should not compensate anyone because this is equal to paying criminals who have been destroying our environment,” he said.
He added that those who were duped into buying forest land should institute private legal redress against the sellers.
“Individuals who bought land from rogue investors should sue them. The office of the Director of Criminal Investigations and Director of Public Prosecutions should take action against those named,” he said.
Sikona supported Environment Cabinet secretary Keriako Tobiko who has been on the receiving end from a section of politicians over the evictions of over 60,000 people. Tobiko had earlier said out of 46 hectares of Maasai Mau forest, 17 have been grabbed.
