Government asked to resettle Sosio forest evictees

Endebess Member of Parliament Robert Pukose has called on the government through the Ministry of Environment to resettle victims of Sosio forest evictions.

Addressing his constituents at Chorlim area, Pukose said the government evicted over 1,500 families without providing them with an alternative place of residence.

The second term lawmaker said the government through a multi-agency team that conducted the forceful evictions violated human rights as enshrined in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.

“Members of more than 1,500 families have no place to sleep, have no food because their houses were burnt down. I’m fact their freedom of worship was violated because the heartless multi agency team burnt four churches,” Pukose said.

Pukose revealed that the victims of forest eviction have moved to Mt. Elgon moorland to seek refuge and asked the government to ensure that they are resettled and compensated as well.

“Every person has a right to life and therefore it is the responsibility of the government to give those people an alternative place to stay like other people in Kenya,” he noted.

Last week when he visited the forest, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Chief Conservator Julius Kamau said the government will not relent in its efforts to reclaim all forest lands that have been encroached in the country.

“This will not stop. We want to secure this country to ensure we have clean and safe environment that has clean and safe water which is a right to all Kenyans and to ensure we secure our resources,” Kamau said.