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Rift Valley MPs reject eviction
notice for Mau squatters
EA STANDARD
By Isaac Ongiri
17.07.2008
Some MPs from the Rift Valley have rejected the Government’s
eviction order for squatters in Mau Forest.
The ten MPs warned the Government against implementing resolutions
arrived at the stakeholders consultative meeting in Nairobi on
Tuesday.
Led by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, the legislators on Wednesday said
they were not part of the deliberations because they were not
consulted.
“We reject any un-negotiated resolutions,” said Kipkelion MP
Magerer Langat, who read the joint statement.
They said alternative settlement must be negotiated before
ultimatums can be issued.
Bureti MP Franklin Bett left the Press conference venue after they
arrived together, keeping his colleagues waiting in vain.
One MP asked, “Ano Franklin?” (Where is Franklin?) “Kakobet!”, the
others answered (he has disappeared).
One MP claimed some colleagues were afraid of commenting on the
matter for fear of being judged politically incorrect.
Magerer said Cabinet Minister William Ruto’s support for
Government plans and his presence at the talks should not be seen
as the region’s endorsement of the resolutions.
Ruto, who single-handedly opposed the resolutions as read at KICC
on Wednesday, said leaders from the region and the affected
squatters would demand a sustainable plan, which would not cause
human suffering.
“Any attempt to force people out of the Mau in a criminalised
manner would be opposed,” he said.
The MPs said though it was important to rescue Mau water catchment
area, it was crucial to have an acceptable means of conflict
resolution instead of “dictatorial ultimatums.”
MPs Sammy Mwaita (Baringo East), Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany),
Elijah Lang’at (Emgwen), Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi) and Perris
Simam (Eldoret South) were present.
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