Nairobi — More than three-quarters of Kenyans support the Mau forest eviction and want those responsible for its destruction punished, according to a new survey.

The study, conducted by Strategic Research Limited, says 83 per cent of Kenyans want the country's largest water tower rehabilitated and protected from land grabbers and illegal settlers.

Only 14 per cent oppose the exercise, while three per cent have no comment.

"Kenyans see a close link between the destruction of forests and the recent droughts that have affected the country, leading to loss of crops and livestock," said the organisation's chief executive, Mr Caesar Handa, while releasing the study at Nairobi's Serena Hotel on Monday.

In terms of provinces, the eviction of illegal settlers draws the highest support in North Eastern (93.8 per cent), then Coast (91 per cent), Nyanza (90 per cent), Western (86.8 per cent), Nairobi (85.4 per cent), Central (78.7 per cent), Rift Valley (77.8 per cent) and Eastern (76.2 per cent).

The percentage of those opposing the eviction is highest in Central Province (20.4 per cent), Rift Valley (20.1 per cent) and Eastern (19.9 percent).

In Nairobi 11.2 per cent oppose it, Coast (7.6 per cent), Nyanza (6.4 per cent), North Eastern (5.4 per cent) and Western (3.7 per cent).

The researchers interviewed 3,000 respondents in all eight provinces, between December 12 and 16, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.76 and a 95 per cent level of confidence.

The Mau evictions, which started as a conservation effort to reclaim dwindling forest cover -- currently standing at less than two per cent -- quickly became fodder for warring camps in the coalition government.

According to the study, 71 per cent of the respondents do not support politicians criticising the government over its handling of the exercise.

"The main reasons for the lack of support are that those criticizing the government are only looking for political mileage, some of the critics grabbed forest land, while others are gunning for the 2012 General Election," said Mr Handa.

To rehabilitate forests, 62 per cent of respondents want the Constituency Development Fund used to finance tree-planting projects.