Senator Ledama Rules Out Compensation for Mau Evictees, Tells Off Ruto

Narok County senator Ledama Ole Kina has ruled out compensation for those being evicted from Maasai Mau forest, saying it was difficult to determine.

Speaking during an interview with KTN News on Wednesday night, Ledama said most of those being evicted from the Mau have “second homes” mostly in other parts of Rift Valley.

The legislator argued that it was the reason that politicians such as Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot were against the evictions.

The senator said the talk of “human misery” on the evictions and that children would be displaced and miss out on schools was part of the narrative by powerful people.

“If these people did not have a second home, then you wouldn’t see the likes of Murkomen and Cheruiyot coming to say we are defending our people. We have a million schools in Kenya… if these people are moved from here, they can be readmitted in other schools for free; that’s not a big deal,” he said.

He asked the President not to relent on the evictions.

“I’m even on record asking the President to suspend everything on his Big Four agenda, put his Cabinet on this issue, set up a tent in Mau and invite every single person who is laying a claim on the Mau and find a solution,” he said.

He added that the language of the politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto showed his hand in the Mau issue. He urged Ruto to “stop interfering”.