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"Insincere"
remark
by John Kamau, Rights Features Service
(January
17, 2001) The Ogiek Welfare Council today dismissed as "insincere"
a government statement denying that surveyors
have invaded controversial Ogiek land.
Nakuru District
Commissioner (DC) James ole Sirian was quoted today in the Swahili
language Nairobi daily Taifa Leo as saying that there are no surveyors
in East Mau forest.
But in a
swift reaction, the Ogiek Welfare Council termed the DC's denial
as "insincere" and asked him to call off the surveying.
"The DC is
being insincere. But he must have been told to deny the fact,"
said Joseph Towett, the Ogiek Welfare Council spokesperson
The DC had
apparently refused to speak about the controversy in length, saying:
"The matter is still in court and I would not like to comment
about it because it is prejudicial."
However,
the DC contradicted himself and said that the government wanted
to settle 40 squatters in Kapsita, which is part of the East Mau
Forest that forms Ogiek ancestral land.
"The DC knows
that Kapsita is part of the East Mau and we have disputed any
settlements there until the matter is resolved in court," said
Towett.
"Unless the
DC seeks leave from the High Court in Nairobi, he cannot settle
anybody in Kapsita without being in contempt of court," said Towett.
The Ogiek
Welfare Council asked the DC to order the withdrawal of the surveyors
rather than deny their presence.
"All the
Ogiek clans have different parcels of land and we want to know
on whose clan land the DC wants to settle the 40 squatters," said
Towett.
The Ogiek
spokesman said that his organization will not be silenced and
will continue to work for the welfare of the community.
"We cannot
stop highlighting suspicious activities on the ground which directly
affect our right to a fair trial," said Towett.
He said that
when the matter is settled in court, the government can sit with
Ogiek elders and enter into discussion on whether they would accommodate
any squatters in their land.
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