Government shuts down 15 schools in Mau Forest phase 2 evictions

The government has shut down 15 schools set up in areas targeted in the second phase of evictions in the Mau Forest.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya said the schools are not government institutions and have been set up in the area illegally.

He pointed out that the 15 institutions have been benefiting from schools gazetted and legally established in the area.

The schools to be shutdown include; Kirobon Centre, Senetwet Centre, Kapsilibwo Centre, Kitoben Centre, Indianit Centre, Kabarak Centre, Noosagami Centre, Chorwet Centre, Ogilge Centre, Sebetet Centre, Olabai Centre, Koitabai Centre, Chebirbelek Centre, Chebetet Centre and Lelechwet Centre.

According to Natembeya, none of the 15 schools has pupils expected to sit for national exams this year.

“The community centres or whatever are being called schools, are actually not registered because they had no land documents, since they are situated in a government gazetted forest — MAU. They are not manned by Teachers Service Commission.

He asked parents not to take their children to the institutions once schools re-open for Third Term.

The government is targeting to reclaim 17,000 acres of land in the phase two of Mau Forest evictions which will affect 10,000 households

The government has given the affected families 60 days to voluntarily vacate the area or be evicted.

A 10-member task-force has also been appointed to come up with an elaborate plan to ensure the second phase of the Mau eviction is done successfully.

It will be chaired by Natembeya and comprises of members from the Kenya Forest Service, KWS and Environment Ministry.

The members include Joel Kitilu (Environment Ministry official), Marcus Ocholla (Rift Valley Regional Commander) and Samuel Kimiti (Narok County Commissioner).