Resettlement: Mau Forest evictees told to be patient

Reverend Ibrahim Mutai with Mau victims calling on the government to settle the evicts before the next election.Deaths has been reported caused by poor diet and cold ailment. PHOTO/BERNARD WAWERU.

BY BERNARD WAWERU

A parliamentary committee on resettlement of internally displaced persons has urged South West Mau forest evictees to wait patiently until a motion for their settlement is tabled in Parliament for debate.

 Ol Kalau MP Erustus Mureithi told the more than three thousand camp residents in Mau that after the fact finding entourage, the result will be discussed in parliament followed by settlement and closure of all satellite camps country wide.

 The legislator accompanied  by Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot and his Mosop counterpart David Koech  expressed optimism that MPs were on good will towards the settlement of all displaced persons languishing in dire want in cold camps before the next election.

 Speaking at Kipkongor camp in Kiptagich extension, the MP called for speedy settlement of camp residents adding that cold ailment and malnutrition had caused death in congested camps. Mureithi called on political leaders to campaigns and political debate on the new constitution in order to pass crucial bills ahead of the next general election.

 Zakayo Cheruiyot told the residents that their request to be given money to buy land raised by their camp leaders will also be inconsideration once the final report to be tabled in parliament is drafted.

 He said plans to provide basic need were on going adding that the food being channeled to different camps should be utilized with transparency to ration all camps.

   The evictee affirmed that they would only like to be settled within Kuresoi constituency to engage in mixed farming and tree planting on the Mau water catchments.

 They thanked area DC Silas Gatobu and DO 1 Puis Wafula for distribution of food rations and medical facilities calling on the increase of basic needs to avert disaster.