ODM MPs claim DP Ruto behind Mau evictions

A section of ODM Members of Parliament have accused Deputy President William Ruto of being behind the ongoing evictions at Mau forest.

Speaking to the press at Parliament Buildings, the legislators, led by Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi defended defend opposition chief Raila Odinga over remarks by Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen linking him to the evictions.

While terming Murkomen’s utterances as “divisive and inciting to Kenyans,” the MPs called on the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to move with speed and apprehend the politicians who toured the Mau area on Thursday.

“It’s DP Ruto who is behind the Mau Evictions, mchana anasema watu waondoka katika msitu huo (during the day, he says people must leave the forest) but at night he goes back to tell them not to move,” says the area MP Moitelel ole Kenta.

The six were; Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kanta, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, Sabot MP Caleb Hamisi, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, Mathare MP Antony Oluoch and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi.

The Kenya Forest Service aims to evict over 5,000 people in Seara Leon, Nkoben, Kosian, Chemogoi and Kitoben areas.

The reactions by the MPs come a day after a group of Rift Valley MPs led by Murkomen termed the evictions as a move aimed at scuttling DP Ruto’s 2022 bid while promising to help them rebuild.

The leaders claimed the eviction is part of a plot to cause bad blood between voters and the deputy president .

Disquiet has been festering as some residents claim the evictions are inhuman and as more politicians wade into the matter, it is turning into a hot button political issue.

The leaders further claimed that police are using excessive force to evict forest encroachers and that locals have lost property amounting to thousand of shillings with nowhere to go.