Mau Politics

Agriculture Minister William Ruto and a section of Rift Valley MPs are warning against using the Mau tree planting exercise as a political cash cow.

The legislators who snubbed the tree planting exercise launched by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday in the Mau defended the move saying they had prior engagements to visit flood victims in Mogotio which they said was very urgent that planting tree in Mau.

The MPs said although they supported conservation and restoration of the Mau they were reading mischief on the part of the Prime Minister and some ministers whom they accused of taking advantage of Mau to further personal political agenda's.

They further told the government should leave up to its promise and ensure that those evicted and posses genuine title deeds are compensated.

The PM who Friday launched the Mau Forest tree-planting drive reiterated the government's commitment in conservation of the country's forests and called on other leaders to stop politicizing the environmental conservation effort.

The launch was attended by Cabinet ministers Musalia Mudavadi, Noah Wekesa, William Ntimama, Charity Ngilu, Anyang' Nyong'o, Paul Otuoma, Otieno Kajwang', Chris Obure, James Orengo, Wycliffe Oparanya, Naomi Shabaan and Mohammed Elmi.

Assistant ministers Peter Kenneth, Cecil Mbarire, Kabando wa Kabando, Oburu Odinga, Wavinya Ndeti, Margaret Wanjiru and Olweny Ayiecho also attended.