Karanja Njoroge And Beatrice Obwocha
7 May 2008
Nairobi — Two Cabinet ministers will today make an extensive aerial tour of the controversial Mau Forest.
Environment minister Mr John Michuki and his Forest and Wildlife counterpart Dr Noah Wekesa will visit the forest, which has been the subject of a row between leaders from two communities in the Rift Valley. They have differed over the fate of over 15,000 settlers living there.
Michuki is expected to make an announcement on the fate of the Mau Forest Complex that is considered a vital catchment for water sources in the country.
Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, Dr Achim Steiner, and Kenya Wildlife Service Director Dr Julius Kipng'etich, will accompany them.
A recent attempt to remove settlers from the forest was resisted by MPs from the Kipsigis community.
Though the Government evicted more than 15,000 from the forest in 2005, President Kibaki revoked the eviction last year during a vote-hunting mission.
Maasai leaders led by Narok North MP, Mr William ole Ntimama, have been calling on the Government to evict those living in the forest, saying it was a vital catchment.
But legislators from South Rift disagree, saying the State was selective and intended to intimidate members of the Kipsigis community.
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