Nairobi — The fate of rich land owners in the Mau Forest will be sealed in the next 50 days. During this period government surveyors marking boundaries will be expected to complete their work and pave way for the next phase of evictions from the water tower.

The chairman of the Interim Coordinating Secretariat spearheading the conservation of the 400,000-hectare Mau Complex, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, said yesterday the survey will start in a week and is expected to be finalised by April 4.

Mr Hassan was speaking to journalists in Nakuru Town soon after holding a meeting with field officers, regional commissioners and district commissioners from the Mau area and representatives of the Ogiek community.

"The marking of the boundaries in the four blocks of Mau - Transmara, Olpomosimoru, Maasai Mau, Southern Western Mau - will start in a week and the work should be complete after the end of 50 days," Mr Hassan said.

At the same time, the Mr Hassan said that the government surveyors were only marking the original boundaries to establish those inside the forest and those who are outside.

Mr Hassan further said after the marking of boundaries, a committee of legal experts would then recommend those to be compensated before the third phase of evictions, which targets settlers on 45,800 hectares, gets under way.

The chairman defended his team against claims that it was moving at snail speed in the conservation of the Mau Forest and urged Kenyans to give them time to accomplish their mandate. "Kenyans should understand that the process of saving Mau is not political but technical, which needs a lot of scrutiny and proper verification," said Mr Hassan.

He added: "The decision which we want to reach as a secretariat is a conclusive and informed one devoid of controversies and I would like to assure Kenyans that we shall do it."