Squatters in Kenya's Mau Forest to be Evicted

More than 16,000 families living in the Mau Forest to be evicted following expiry of the deadline they had been given to move out willingly. The Forest is amongst the Kenya's largest water towers.

Security officers have been deployed in the forest to assist in the eviction exercise. The government has however assured them that no force will be used unless they faced resistance from the settlers.

Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa said that they intend to drive out the squatters in a “humane” way. The evictions are set to begin anytime from today.

Tension among the settlers was evident as security officers arrived in the forest. They came out in large numbers to witness their arrival.

Some of the residents are however not ready to move from the forest claiming that they have nowhere to go and they are not ready to leave behind their property.

Mau Forest complex in the Rift Valley of Kenya is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa. The settlers living there had been given a 14 day notice to vacate the premises, a notice which expired yesterday. [CK]