Over 40,000 Mau Forest evictees to appeal court ruling

More than 40,000 evictees of the Mau Forest are contesting a judgement by the Environment and Lands Court in Narok that dismissed their petition challenging their forceful eviction 4 years ago.

The evictees, through their lawyers, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling saying they will appeal the decision before the Appellate court.

Kimutai Bosek, the petitioners’ lawyer, said: “We are not very satisfied, my clients have instructed me to rush to the Court of Appeal and certainly you’re not hearing this matter for the last time. We will fight on and on.”

On Thursday, Environment and Lands Court Judge John Mutungi revoked title deeds created for five group ranches; Enoosokon, Enkaroni, Enoosaen, Enekishomi and Sisiyian.

Judge Mutungi said the title deeds were null and void as the subdivision comprised part of the Maasai Mau forest.

“The petitioners did not prove that their rights were violated, so I order that the titles are revoked,” ruled the judge.

The three-judge bench further ordered that Mau Forest inhabitants vacate forest land within a period of 90 days.

This as the county government was ordered to carry out a ground assessment of the forest and erect beacons and permanent features designating the extent of the forest with specific regard for the initial acreage of the five group ranches.

“[They] to vacate with immediate effect, and in any event, within 90 days from the date of the judgement, failure in which an order of eviction shall be issued against them,” stated Judge Mutungi.

The court decision has continued to elicit reactions among local leaders and residents living along the Mau Forest.

The over 40,000 evictees had moved to court to sue the State over what they termed as illegal and forceful evictions from their farms in the Mau Forest in 2018 and 2019.