The Kenya Forest Service petitioned Court against illegal settlers in Eastern Mau to pack and leave, stating due procedure was not adhered to in the “purported alteration of forest boundaries”.
Evans Kegode, the Service’s head of Survey and Mapping, told Nakuru Environment and Lands court judge John Mutungi that the settlements within the Eastern Mau Forest are unlawful.
“The settlements within Eastern Mau Forest did not follow the prescribed procedure for changing forest boundaries as outlined in the Forest Act Cap 385.
“Neither did the alleged settlements use the methods created via various government initiatives,” Kegode testified during cross-examination.
Kegode, who was being cross-examined by Senior State Counsel Shirika, stated that on June 27, 2020, the government assembled a multi-agency team to evict the illegal settlers.
“The government operation was intended to recapture the land from unregistered unlawful settlers,” Kegode testified in court.
The state wanted settlers to leave settlement schemes in Nessuit, Marioshoni, Sururu, Likia, Terit, and Sigotik.
Thousands of people are expected to be impacted across the 35,000 hectares (86,486.75 acres) land.
