Mau Forest to be fenced off to stop grabbing: Ruto

President William Ruto has declared that no one will be allowed to encroach on the Mau Forest.

Speaking in Narok County during the start of his three-day development tour of the region, Ruto said he will resolve the issues surrounding the vital water tower. 

Ruto said some individuals had doubts in him that he would sub-divide the Mau and settle locals.

He added that not even a single individual has encroached the forest since he took over as President. He noted that the government has instead evicted those who had encroached.

"I told them it is impossible, Mau will now cease being a campaign agenda. Mau is a critical water tower in the country. Today, I bring and handover the Mau forest land title deed measuring 250,000 acres to the County Government, to hold in trust of Narok residents and the Republic of Kenya," he stated.

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Ruto said the government has allocated funds to have the forest fenced. The first phase, he said, will cover 100 kilometers of the forest to prevent further encroachment.

He was accompanied by Governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Lati Lelelit (Samburu) and Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Narok Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, Woman MP Rebecca Tonkei, Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West), Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikiir), Kitilai Ole Ntutu (Narok South), Defence Cabinet Secretary  Soipan Tuya, Tourism PS John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, PS Lands Nixon Korir among others.

Ruto revealed that Tuya initiated the process of titling the Maasai Mau land. 

The pronouncement by the President to conserve the Mau enforces a decision by a three judge bench that ordered conservation of the Maasai Mau.

On October 13, 2022, a three-judge bench in a suit by over 500 evictees of the Maasai Mau Section of the Mau Forest said the settlement of people in the area was illegal.

Judges John Mutungi, George Ong’ondo, and Mohammed Kullow of the Land and Environment Court found that the occupation of the forest by individuals was illegal and should not have happened because it endangered the ecosystem.

The judges declared the eviction of families during the 2018 ‘Operation Okoa Msitu wa Mau’ by the government as lawful and ruled that none of the victims should be compensated.

The judgment was about the subdivision of five group ranches in the area. The judges said the subdivision of Reiyo, Enakishomi, Sisiyian, Enoosokon, and Nkaroni Group Ranches was beyond the initial acreage at the time of adjudication.

The judges said the Maasai Mau Forest and the entire Mau Forest Complex need to be conserved and protected.

They added that they had no hesitation in holding that there is a need to conserve and protect the Mau Forest Complex for the wider interest of the public so that the present and future generations can enjoy its benefits.

“It cannot be gainsaid why the Mau Forest complex requires to be protected and conserved as a critical water tower. The environment serves the present and the future generations, hence there is a need that the environment is not degraded to the prejudice of future generations,” they stated.

They declared that the subdivided land over and above the initially registered acreage of the group ranch land parcels comprised part of the Maasai Mau Forest reserve and the same should be restored to the forest.

The judges ordered that the land titles were obtained illegally, unlawfully, and un-procedurally, hence a nullity and constituted unlawful encroachment into the Maasai Mau Forest Reserve.

The court said once the Maasai Mau Forest boundary is determined, the government, to protect and conserve it, shall erect a perimeter fence on the portion of the forest abutting the land adjudicated to group ranches.

Ruto, during his tour, informed the locals that the government has acquired an additional 6,000 acre land in Kedong ranch to settle Narok residents. Earlier, the government had allocated 4,000 acre land to Narok residents.

"The government has acquired an additional 6,000 acre land and you will now benefit from a 10,000 acre land in Kedong," he said.

Ruto said the government is ready to issue titles to the locals once the list of beneficiaries is provided.

"I am ready to issue you with title deeds, what I am waiting for is you to provide the names of beneficiaries and, once I get the names next week, in less than a week your titles will be ready," he said.

He commissioned a number of projects including two multi-million Economic Stimulus Markets in Suswa and Ntulele shopping centres. He also opened a Sh356 million Kenya Medical Training College in Narok Town. At least 12 markets he said will be constructed in the county.

He also launched the upgrade of the Narok Airstrip to an airport noting that it is vital in promoting the tourism industry in the area. The National Government and the county government he said will partner to ensure the upgrade is a success.

Ruto reiterated that he is committed to uniting Kenyans through the broad based government having agreed with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to serve Kenyans.

"This is the kind of nation we want to build, united, prosperous and is only possible if we work together," he said.

Governor Ntutu said the construction of the airport will be a boost to the tourism sector in the area. 

Ntutu said the county will support President Ruto in his second term bid. He warned that the county is already locked and not available for those eyeing the Presidency.

Governor ole Lenku said as Maa leaders they support President Ruto.

Senator Olekina said the ODM party will support President Ruto.