PH
Nairobi City Speaker Alex ole Magelo has faulted the Cabinet proposal to excise 17,000 hectares of the Maasai Mau forest.
Magelo said the government should instead shelve the intended plans because they did not involve all the stakeholders before coming up with decision.
Speaking to the News24, Magelo said if the state will not halt the move immediately, the Maasai community will invade the forest to safeguard the forest.
“It is disrespectful for the community who have since protected the forest, for the state to come up with plans and cut out a section of the forest with the plans to resettle squatters. Even the Maasai community has squatters but it should be protected with all cost,” said a tough talking Magelo.
The speaker said if the government was serious with the conservation, they should have involved community because they have lived to protect it.
He said the Mau forest is an important ecosystem because it is depended upon by more than 3 million Kenyans.
“The wildlife especially at the Maasai Mara depends on the waters from the Mau Forest. Destroying these forests means we are seriously destroying our tourism sector which is the main source of income to people of Narok County,” said Magelo.
Magelo said if the government was serious with the conservation, they should have involved community because there are the major stakeholder in the Mau issue.
He reminded the leaders that the water catchments should be protected because many countries have fought over water resources.
“If we save the Mau forest and other water towers, our country will be respected globally for environmental conservations,” he said.
He warned the politicians to stop politicizing the Mau issues noting the issues should not divide the Kipsigis and Maasai community into tribal lines.
“We have live peacefully with our brothers from Kipsigis community and we will not allow leaders whose aim is to bring enmity between these two communities,” he said.
Magelo reiterated that he will still spearhead the Maasai community to save the Mau forest.
“I cannot sit and watch as the Maasai Mau forest being destroyed that why I have decided to take personal responsibility to protect it. Enough is enough, we will take all manner of tools that will help us to safeguard the forest,” agitated Magelo said.
