Relocation of Illegal Squatters from South Western Mau Forest Reserve

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Part of the degraded Mau Forests Complex

The official relocation of illegal squatters from the South Western Mau Forest Reserve starts on Monday 16 November 2009 under the coordination of the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner.

This follows the expiry of the 14-day vacation notice issued by the Kenya Forest Service to illegal squatters on gazetted forestland for which no title deeds had been issued. 

In order to ensure a humane implementation of the exercise, the Government has mobilised various Ministries to provide:

• Security (through the Ministry for Provincial Administration and Internal Security and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife);
• Transportation for the squatters and their property to be returned to their original homes;
• Food items, including maize, beans and cooking fat (through the Ministry of State for Special Programmes);
• Water (through the Ministry of Water and Irrigation);
• Health (through the Ministry of Health).

In addition, the Ministry of Education carried out a survey of the pupils residing in the forest:

• There are only three non-registered seasonal primary schools in the forest (Langam, Chesigar and Siratet) comprising a total of 213 pupils.  They are all going up to class 4. The community has employed teachers through the Parents Teachers Association;
• There are no KCPE/KCSE candidates in the schools in the forests;
•  School bordering the forest are operating at 75 per cent capacity and have the ability to absorb additional pupils should they be relocated from the forests.

In line with the above findings, it is expected that the relocation will not interfere in any significant manner with the schooling of the pupils residing in the forest.

In consultation with the relevant Ministries, the Interim Coordinating Secretariat has developed a five-phase plan of action for the repossession of forestland.  Phases I and II are currently being implemented (see Table 1). These two phases deal mainly with forestland for which no title deeds have been issued. The other three phases which deal with title deeds and the issues of compensation and resettlements will be implemented from early 2010 onwards. 

Phase II concerns specifically the repossession of approx. 19,000 hectares in South Western Mau Forest Reserve of largely bamboo forest that have been encroached by illegal squatters.  These squatters have no documentation to support their occupation of the forest.  In addition, the area encroached has never been set aside by the Government for settlement.  It is still and remains a protected forest reserve.
 

Each of the relevant Government ministries and agencies has assessed the situation and made the necessary provisions to ensure a humane and orderly implementation of the relocation and restoration of the Mau Forests Complex.  

Table 1: Phases I and II of the plan of action for the repossession of forestland

For further information, please contact:

Chief Coordinator
Interim Coordinating Secretariat,
Cell: 0722 740982
E-Mail: hassannur58@yahoo.com

Provincial Commissioner
Rift Valley Province
Telephone: 051 2210246
E-Mail: provriftvalley@yahoo.com