Nairobi — Houses left behind by Mau settlers were demolished on Thursday in a clear indication that the government would not allow the evicted squatters to return to the forest.
The Kenya Forest Service has also sent more rangers to the South Western Mau to ensure that the families that leave the country's largest source of water do not return.
In Nairobi, Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa warned that any settler who attempted to defy government orders to leave the forest would be arrested.
He also criticised Rift Valley MPs who have threatened to lead the squatters back to the forest unless the government identifies alternative land for the evicted families within 12 days.
"Politicians from the region visit the area daily inciting the people and urging them not to move until the government gives them alternative land," he said.
According to the minister, resettlement should not be used as a condition to move out as there were government procedures for the landless to apply for resettlement.
In the Mau, forest rangers descended on the mostly grass-thatch huts after the owners moved to makeshift camps at Kapkembu.
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There have been claims that evicted families have been sneaking back to their dwellings at night only to return to the camps in the morning.
On Thursday, one police officer said they had strict orders not to allow the settlers back into the forest. He said the demolition of houses started on Wednesday.
The settlers on Thursday accused the rangers of burning their houses at Kiptekelde after they had moved out.
One of them, Mr Richard Korir, said the officers demolished his house while he was at Tarta camp during the day.
Mr Korir said he had been returning to the house at night to take care of his crops.
"I agree with the government call for us to leave the forest but occasionally I pop in into the house as I take care of my maize crop," he said.
The evicted families had on Wednesday rejected the transport offered by the government and the vehicles were driven back to Keringet.
"We told the DC that we were not going because we do not have anywhere to go," said Mr John Kosgei. He said that most of the settlers had sold their land before moving to the forest.
Despite the ongoing demolitions, some settlers vowed to go back to the forest if the government failed to give them alternative land.
"We will not move and even the district commissioner knows this because we have told him so," said Mr Kosgei.
Some of the squatters also alleged that relief food supplies were being given to people from neighbouring areas who had not been evicted from the forest. They said the neighbours were posing as squatters to receive food.
Mrs Vicky Cheruiyot claimed that some of the beneficiaries were selling the tarpaulins and blankets they received from the Kenya Red Cross Society. The tarpaulins were going for Sh200 and blankets for Sh100.
Most of the squatters who have left the forest were living in South West Mau which has been targeted in the first phase of the rehabilitation of 19,000 hectares. Those who live in this part of the forest have no title deeds and would not be compensated.
And on Thursday, Dr Wekesa said Kenya Wildlife Service rangers would on Monday be sent to the area to boost the numbers of the Kenya Forestry Service officers.
He said a 14-day notice given to the squatters to leave the area had expired and any defiance would be dealt with as stipulated in law.
Elsewhere, Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot accused the government of callousness. Speaking at Parliament Buildings, Mr Cheruiyot said contrary to government claims, no plan had been made to give the evictions a human face.
In a related development, Prime Minister Odinga announced that squatters leaving the Mau forest would begin receiving assistance.
"The government has an elaborate plan to assist those leaving the forest," he said.
Mr Odinga appealed to those leaving the forest to fill in forms being administered by the Ministry of Special Programmes which would use the forms to identify the squatters' immediate needs.
The PM made the statement as Heritage minister William ole Ntimama called for an investigation into the source of funds he alleged were being used by some MPs to bribe squatters to resist eviction.
Mr Ntimama and three other legislators alleged that the MPs were paying squatters "dirty money" to fight the evictions.
The claims were however denied by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.
Those with Mr Ntimama were Mr Joseph Kiuna (Molo), Mr Nkoidila ole Lankas (Narok South) and Mr Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu Town East).
The MPs also told their counterparts not to purport to speak on behalf of all Rift Valley MPs, saying the province had a cross-section of Kenyans who wanted to see Mau vacated.
Reported by Noah Cheploen and George Sayagie, Paul Juma, Walter Menya and Kenneth Ogosia
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