Ogiek to fight Mau's evictions in Africa's Courtyard

The Ogiek community will return to the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights this week at during the week Maasai Mau Forest Expulsions. The evictions began seven days ago and are being carried out by agents from the Kenya Forest Service, the Administrative Police and the Kenya Wildlife Service

Yesterday, in Nakuru, the chairman of the Council of Community Alumni, Mr. Joseph Towett, said the court 's judgment released last year. He said the court ordered the Kenyan government to compensate those affected in previous evictions.

"The ongoing evictions targeting members of various communities, including the Ogiek, are a violation of the judgment of the Arusha court.We will return to court for the review of the judgment and possibly introduce a new trial, "said Mr. Towett.

After more than five years of litigation, the court ruled in May 2017 that the Kenyan government had violated rights and freedoms. He told the Kenyan government "to take all appropriate steps within a reasonable time to remedy all established violations "and to inform the progress made six months. The court asked the Ogiek to file their claims for reparations within two months.

London-based lawyer Lucy Claridge represented the Ogiek

"Instead of enforcing the judgment, the government expels innocent people." As much as we support conservation, do not politicize this issue ", said Mr. Towett

The evictions have so far affected 13 shopping centers, 772 homes, more than 3,000 head of cattle and 8,860 people.

was driven to Nkoben, Kosia, Kbad FM, Msaita and Arorwet with most of the evicted camping at the Arorwet Mall.

At least 12,000 illegal settlers living on 146,000 hectares of forest are targeted for eviction last week. 19659006] A multi-agency team from Kenya Forest Service, Administrative Police and Kenya Wildlife Service is involved in the operation.

Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya argues that "squatters" have homes and land elsewhere. He said that they invaded the forest to burn charcoal and graze their animals.

Meanwhile, the MP for Narok North Moitalel Ole Kenta and his counterpart of Bomet Central, Ronald Tonui, have Victims

M. Tonui called the decision harbading citizens, saying that those who lived in the forest were actually settled by the government.

He condemned the ongoing evictions as inhuman and unjustified

. Families camping at the Kitoben Mall on the edge of the forest in South Narok Sub-county, Mr. Tonui blamed the government for driving the unfortunate people out of their homes.

million. Tonui wants the state to suspend the expulsion plans of the Mau Forest squatters because of the cold weather

He appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto to intervene and give settlers alternative lands instead.

"Time is bad for expulsion, it's raining, people's lives are in danger," said Tonui

but his North Narok counterpart, Mr. Kenta, insisted fact that evictions must continue to secure the future of Kenya's largest water castle. Tonui's concerns, saying that most of the land beneficiaries were powerful people in the previous government, who also allocated or sold the land to their supporters.

According to the deputy, more than five million people depend on the Mau ecosystem for their well-being.

"This MP who was going to Mau should stay away from Narok County, in Narok we should have leaders, he should focus on matters affecting the people of Bomet," said Mr. Kenta

. (19659006) The forest was devastated despite a national moratorium on logging.

The Mau Complex straddles several counties and is the largest in Kenya. it is the source of supply for Lake Victoria and White Nile.

It covers 400,000 hectares and is the largest forest block in East Africa.

It is also the source of many rivers that carry the water of Mau. Western Kenya from Lake Turkana in the north to Lake Natron in the south