Embobut Squatters: Give Us More Time

The senator asked for a period of six months to one year for the forest squatters, saying they had been given too short a time to settle in alternative places.

Speaking at Embobut primary school, Murkomen condemned Kenya forest service officials for burning the squatters homes, saying the act is against human rights.

Marakwet West MP Kangogo Bowen appealed to the government to de-gazette an area of forest land saying the squatters have nowhere else to go.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto had in 2013 given 2,874 families' ksh. 400,000 each to enable them settle in other areas.

The forest squatters had then been given a 21 day notice to vacate the forest.

Some of the residents now want the government to give them time to harvest their crops in the forest and be allowed to graze their cattle since that is their only livelihood.

Others protested their eviction and asked more money from the government saying the 400,000 cannot buy an acre of land.

By Diana Kariuki