Will resettlement of Mau evictees end political circus?

At least 10,000 people evicted from the Mau Forest can now look forward to rebuilding their lives after President William Ruto announced a long-awaited resettlement plan aimed at addressing years of displacement and suffering.

Mau Forest has experienced a series of evictions aimed at curbing deforestation and preservation of the key water tower for many years.

Speaking on Thursday in Narok South during his development tour of the county, Ruto acknowledged the hardships the evictees have faced since being removed from the forest.

“I have spoken with leaders from this area, and we have agreed on the way forward," he said.

"Tulikubaliana hakuna kurudi msitu tena, ile kazi iko sasa ni either tuwapangie shamba mahali ingine ama tuwapatie compensation, mambo ni mawili (We agreed that no one will return to the forest; the task now is either to resettle you elsewhere or offer compensation, there are only two options),” Ruto said.

He instructed Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to work with the area deputy county commissioner and local chiefs to compile a verified list of all evictees eligible for the programme.

Ruto also assured the residents that the process would be fair and transparent, saying no legitimate claimant would be left out.

The Mau Forest evictions have been a long-standing source of tension, with thousands of families displaced and left in limbo.

The evictions have often been politicised and used as a campaign tool with competing camps keen to woo voters either by promising to resettle evicted families back in the forest or finding them alternative land elsewehere.

Notably, in 2008, the the government intensified eviction campaigns, targeting illegal settlers and those deemed to have acquired land irregularly during previous administrations.

The indigenous Ogiek who have for years claimed ownership of the forest land are among those affected, forcing them to seek legal redress for the injustices.

In a landmark 2017 ruling, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights found that the Kenyan government had violated the Ogiek's rights to land, religion, culture, and development.

The court ordered the government to grant the Ogiek collective land title and pay $1.3 million (Sh167.7m) in compensation.

Despite this ruling, enforcement has been slow, and evictions have continued, highlighting the challenges in balancing conservation efforts with indigeneous rights.

In Kenya, indigenous people are primarily those who identify as hunter-gatherers and pastoralists.

These communities include the Ogiek, who often face marginalisation and discrimination, both socially and economically, and their survival often depend on access to their traditional lands and resources.

In August 2019, the government instituted a second round of evictions after it issued a 60-day vacate notice to individuals residing illegally in the Maasai Mau Forest.

However, evictions commenced just a day after the notice was given, raising concerns about adherence to legal procedures.

The then Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya emphasised the government's commitment to restoring the water tower to its original form.

This, as he warned the evictees against resettling near the forest boundaries, which is within 10 kilometers of the forest cutline to prevent potential re-encroachment.

Ruto's announcement of a plan to resettle the affected families shines a ray of hope for thousands of households who will for the first time in over a decade have a place to call home.

The move comes at a time the evictees were accusing the government and leaders of reneging on the pre-campaign promises they made prior to the 2022 general election regarding their plight.

The President was, however, quick to point out that he had already disbursed compensation to about 2,000 individuals.