Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has urged hundreds of families left out of the government's 2.6 billion shilling compensation programme for Mau Forest evictees to be patient as their compensation issue is handled by the National government. The affected families, mainly from Melelo Ward, are seeking compensation for their losses during the eviction from the water tower. Ntutu's call for patience comes as authorities review complaints over the compensation list.
The compensation programme, which was announced recently, saw 13,000 families receive 200,000 shillings each. However, some affected households have not benefited, with the Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia acknowledging that errors may have occurred during the preparation and verification of the list. Lotiatia ordered the families to leave the Mau Forest and present their complaints through established government channels.
The affected families had returned to the forest and pitched tents after discovering that their names were missing from the list of beneficiaries. They claim that some eligible families may have been omitted, while others say their personal and property details were recorded incorrectly. The families are calling for a fresh verification exercise to ensure that all affected households are accounted for.
Ntutu has also called for an investigation into why families in Melelo were left out while beneficiaries in Sogoo and Sagamian received most of the compensation. He urged the affected families to work with local administrators, including chiefs and village elders, to verify information submitted during the compensation process.
Lotiatia dismissed claims that chiefs altered the list and urged those left out to lodge complaints with the relevant government offices. He also warned against re-occupying the forest, saying his office would not allow settlement or other activities in prohibited areas. Lotiatia further cautioned residents against spreading unverified information on social media.
The families want government agencies to jointly verify affected households and assess the property lost before any further payments are made. They have also called for a transparent process involving affected communities to ensure eligible households are neither excluded nor added without justification.
Meanwhile, Ntutu has dismissed claims of ethnic discrimination in Narok Town Ward, saying all residents have a constitutional right to live anywhere in the country. He emphasized that his government has no tribalism and wants to continue promoting peace in the county.
Key points
- Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has called for patience among hundreds of families left out of the government's 2.6 billion shilling compensation programme for Mau Forest evictees.
- The affected families are seeking compensation for their losses during the eviction from the water tower, with some claiming that errors may have occurred during the preparation and verification of the list.
- The government has announced plans to review complaints over the compensation list and verify affected households to ensure that all eligible families receive compensation.
