KWS evicts hundreds of families near Lake Kamnarok

Hundreds of residents from Cheptigit village in Kerio Valley will spend the night in the cold after the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) embarked on the demolition of houses for what it terms as encroachment.

According to KWS, inhabitants have encroached lake Kamnarok Game Reserve, threatening lives of wildlife in the area hence necessitating the process to reclaim it back.

The affected villagers say the exercise has inflicted lifelong scars amid a massive trail of destruction in the area.

James Cheboi, a 40-year-old, is one of the residents who have been hit hard in the village; the evidently disturbed man was born there and his parents were buried in the very village that has been home for him.

“Sisi ni wajukuu ya wale wameaga, usiku wa jana tulienda kazi kurudi tukapata nyumba zimeanguka,” he told Citizen TV.

He is living on hope together with his five children that perhaps, he will find a temporal refuge elsewhere. He however has no answers on where he will spend the night together with his vulnerable children.

It is the story shared by Isaiah Cherewa, a resident of the neighboring Kipsenger village; his house was also reduced to ashes by the no nonsense armed KWS officers.

He lost all his property including the family's food store; the incident has torn his family apart, up to now he is yet to locate his children.

“Mimi wazazi wangu walinizaa hapa, watoto wangu walipoona vile nyumba inachomwa walitoroka mpaka sahii,” he said.

Political leaders from the area have condemned the manner in which the evictions are being conducted.

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot said: “Huwezi kuja hapa kuharibia wananchi nyumba zao eti sababu mnafanya conservation, huyu commander must be stopped and we shall deal with his case in Nairobi.”

The KWS Commander leading the operation appealed to the area leaders to shun politics and instead help in protecting the already vulnerable ecosystem threatening both land and aquatic animals.

“Let’s not play politics here, animals life have been greatly affected, elephants and endangered crocodile species have been killed that's why we want to protect it,” said Commander Shikanga Byatt.

The affected families called for speedy intervention by government to expedite compensation for losses incurred.