The government is likely to reverse the gains that president William Ruto is trumpeting on environmental conservation if declarations made by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to resettle Mau Forest evictees back to the water tower are effected.
Today, speaking at Sogoo in Narok South, the DP said that they will resettle hundreds of squatters forced out of Mau Narok forest by the previous administration.
Effectively, this will spell doom to the climate change mitigation efforts being championed by his boss including the planting of 15billion trees.
“They were kicked out of the forest in an inhumane manner but that is now behind us. We will continue to conserve the forest. The President has set aside funds for the resettlement of the people in the next financial year which will begin in July.” Gachagua said.
He said the said the Kenya Kwanza government had set aside funds for the resettlement in the next financial year to help hundreds of families who have remained homeless for years.
The illegal settlers were evicted during the administration of former president, the late Mwai Kibaki during the Grand Coalition government where opposition leader Raila Odinga served as the Prime Minister.
He asked the affected citizens to form a 10-member committee that will work with the government on resettlement.
Gachagua invited the committee members together with the area MCA, MP, governor and deputy county commissioner to his office to firm up the plans to relocate them.
The Deputy President also applauded Narok governor Patrick Ole Ntutu for the construction of the feeder roads within the county that will enhance residents’ access to markets for their farm produce and health facilities within the region.
The DP launched the 24kilometers Bokoiyot-Marinwak-Kipkurkuret- Sogoo-Tengecha-Road and 6kilometers Tumoyot-Menet road in Sogoo, Narok South.
The DP said Sogoo was a fertile food basket conducive for vegetables, wheat, maize and milk farming.
“The government is committed to opening up this area to potential markets and reduce post-harvest losses.” Gachagua noted.
The new roads are part of the 1,145 kilometers of Lot 83 feeder roads and bridges within the six sub-counties of Narok funded by the county.
“These roads will help farmers to reduce post-harvest losses by delivering their farm produce to the markets in time.” He added.
This will ensure they fetch best prices in the market,” the DP added.
