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Ignore October 30 deadline,
minister tells Mau squatters
EA STANDARD
22.07.2008
By Alex Kiprotich
An assistant minister has called on people living in Mau Forest to
ignore the Government’s eviction notice unless alternative land
for resettlement is offered.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Assistant minister William
Cheptumo said the October 30 deadline given to the Mau settlers
was not tenable, unless the Government allocated them alternative
land.
"The October deadline should be ignored unless the Government also
meets the deadline to make alternative land available," he said.
Cheptumo said the impression created that Rift Valley MPs were
against people moving out of Mau Forest was wrong. The Baringo
North MP said the MPs were concerned about the plight of thousands
of settlers who have valid title deeds and cannot just be evicted.
"We are not against the removal of people from the water catchment
area, but the exercise must be done in a humane manner," he said.
Cheptumo said it was wrong for the Government to advocate the
eviction of people who had legally been settled on the land.
"These people were removed in 2004 and last year, President Kibaki
ordered them back. So the question is what is going on?" he said.
Rift Valley MPs have urged the affected families not to move out
until they are fully compensated. But National Heritage minister
William Ntimama said they must be removed.
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