Mau latest

The Mau Secretariat coordinator Hassan Noor Hassan said Tuesday they expected to reclaim at least 85% of the South Western Mau by the end of this week.

The ongoing Mau evictions have sparked controversy with a section of Rift Valley MPs taking on the government for reneging on its promise to resettle the settlers on alternative land.

Two cabinet ministers also got personal with Prime Minister Raila Odinga accusing him of seeking international recognition over the Mau at the expense of settlers in the forest.

The evictions have created a humanitarian crisis as most families that have left the forest were camping in the outskirts of the forest claiming they had nowhere to go.

However Noor in an exclusive interview with KBC downplayed the issue insisting that the exercise was on course adding that they were now making plans for the third phase where compensation will be considered for those with legal title deeds.

He said they have so far claimed over 5,000 hectares while the second phase targets a further 19,000 hectares.

In total 34,000 families will be affected, when the five phases of relocation take place with the exercise expected to end by the first week of December.

The Ministry of Forestry has said arrangements have been made using the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme to immediately grow trees in the area once the people move out.

Noor said most of those targeted in the first phase of the exercise did not have titles.

The affected families have been camping at Kapsongor in South Western where they have made makeshift shelters.