Another
ultimatum
by
Jennifer Wanjiru, Rights Features Service
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(December 27, 2001)
The government has given communities residing in Mau Forest an
order to leave before January 15. There is fear that the Ogiek
community might be targeted.
Announcing the order,
the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Mr. Peter Raburu said
the "more than 10,000 illegal settlers in government forests
should move out peacefully or else we will forcefully evict them."
The government considers
the Ogiek to be illegal settlers despite the fact that they have
inhabited Mau Forest since the pre-colonial period.
The current order
was issued on Christmas eve in the presence of Chief Conservator
of Forests Joseph M. Mutie, Provincial Forest Officer Josephat
Bundotich, Nakuru District Commissioner James ole Seriani and
Nakuru District Forest Officer Elijah Kituru.
Mr. Raburu said the
destruction of Mau forest could not be condoned, and he did say
that it was an important catchment basin for many major rivers
in the country. But he did not address the question of timber
companies that have been logging Mau Forest with impunity.
The Ogiek have not
been involved with the destruction of the forest and have been
fighting to save it.
However, the President
Moi government has degazetted huge chunks of Mau Forest to allegedly
settle the landless. This is a move that may lead to loss of Ogiek
traditional hunting grounds and homeland. The Ogiek have gone
to court to stop the settling of other communities in their homeland
for fear of loss of identity and assimilation.
Their case will be
heard on February 21.
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