In a report by the Daily Nation, Natembeya who was speaking in Narok termed the leaders’ act of purchasing land at a close proximity to the Mau forest as a scheme to undermine the government’s efforts to conserve the environment.
“We will not allow evictees to settle less than 10km from the forest boundary so they can desist from the temptation to go back and carry on with the activities they did before evictions,” warned Natembeya as quoted by the Daily Nation.
Natembeya also indicated that the land intended to be bought by the leaders was not enough to resettle all the evictees stating that it could lead to the formation of an informal settlement that was not allowable in a rural setting.
Further, he stated that the government was in the process of evicting settlers in Marmanet, Embobut and Kaptagat forests.
“We will not relent until this happens,” added Natembeya.
In response to Natembeya, Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno accused the government of intimidation and harassment to the evictees.
Ng’eno also accused Natembeya of leading a government process aimed at interfering with the resettlement of those affected.
“We bought the land to temporarily shelter Mau evictees who are in absolute distress and don’t have alternative land until this government becomes sober or is kicked out of power and we get another government ready to hear its people,” remarked Ng’eno.
The firebrand parliamentarian added that their aim was to settle all evictees that vacated the 17,101 acres of land because they had nowhere to go.
In December 2019, leaders in the region identified different pieces of land totalling 68 acres in Sogoo,Tendwet and Ololulung’a for the resettlement of some of the evicted families.
The land they bought is in Ololulunga (15 Acres), Melelo (10 acres), Segemian (20 acres) and Sogoo (23 acres) all along the forest block.
A report carried by K24 Digital in November 2019, indicated that elected leaders from the region were contributing un the upwards of Ksh100,000 each to achieve a minimum of Ksh100 million in the aid of over 60,000 evictees rendered homeless.
