Kenya Evicts Forest Settlers

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By Seyi Oduyela

Published: November 21, 2009

Kenya Evicts Forest Settlers

By Seyi Oduyela

The Kenyan government began searching for illegal settlers living in the Mau forest yesterday after a deadline for their eviction expired. Officials said most of the 20,000 families in the region had already left their farms. The government has vowed to compensate those with title deeds for their land. However, it is estimated that less than 10 per cent of families have genuine title deeds. A local BBC reporter said most families are now living in desperate conditions as they have nowhere else to go. The Mau forest is Kenya’s main water catchment area, but many of its rivers have dried up recently. Coupled with one of the worst droughts in years, the fate of the Mau has sparked intense political debate and a bid to restore the forest’s ecosystem.

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