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Another
ultimatum
by
John Kamau, Rights Features Service
(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.
Although
Mr. Raburu said the destruction of Mau forest could not be condoned,
he did say that it was an important catchment basin for many major
rivers in the country. 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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