Kick Settlers out of Mau Forest Quick-says Prof Wangari Maathai

By James Ratemo

 

Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai is against a call by Rift valley politicians for blanket compensation of Mau forest settlers.

The world-renowned environmentalist has warned of a disaster unless the forest is saved from further destruction. 

Speaking to the media yesterday, Wangari accused the MPs of double speak and dishonesty as they push the Government so hard on the compensation issue.

 

“I want to remind all of us that in Enoo-Supukia Kikuyus were evacuated by force and people even died…nobody said those people should be compensated. Everybody said no body should be sitting on water-shed areas. I remember Cabinet minister William Ole Ntimama was extremely vocal that those people needed to be evacuated,” she argued.

 

She said a section of the MPs are criticising the Government because they want their own people to benefit with disregard to the damage the settlers are causing to the environment.

 

“I am not defending whoever allocated people land in Enoo-Supukia but surely if we removed people from one area of the forested area in the name of protecting the water shed area , should we not remove people from  Mau in the name of protecting the same forested area,” wondered Maathai.

 

In an earlier interview, Wangari said the government had failed to walk its talk by allowing political bickering instead of concentrating on restoring the country’s dwindling catchment area.

 


“The government needs to think very seriously, there is no use shedding crocodile tears when people and animals are dying then start appealing to the international community for food,” she said.

 


“Is it that we don’t have enough thinking capacity to project that if we destroy forests we will have a changed rainfall pattern and water shortage?” she decried.


 


Mau Forest is the largest water catchment area in Kenya and feeds big rivers such as the Ewaso Ng’iro, Sondu, Mara and Njoro which in turn drain into Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Natron.



 

Already many rivers and lakes are drying up directly affecting the country socially and economically. Over 5.5million people directly or indirectly benefit from Mau Complex.

 

Wangari has in the recent past asked the government to name and shame people who own land in the catchment area if it was truly committed to reclaiming the forest.

 

She said: “If the government wanted to be honest, it will reveal the names you will be shocked. The reason why it will not be released is because the government does not want to reveal who are there. It is our ruling elite who are doing the damage to the Mau.”


 


Prof Maathai further accused some politicians of using the poor local population that has settled on the water catchment area in the pretence of protecting them from eviction.

 

“When people say they don’t want ‘their people’ removed. Who is not your people? They are using those poor people as scapegoats,” she said alleging that powerful individuals allocated themselves huge pieces of land and gave small pieces to poor people to cover up their ownership.