President William Ruto has officially declared the end of the protracted Mau Forest eviction saga following the disbursement of a Sh2.6 billion compensation package to 13,000 affected families in Narok County.
Speaking at Sogoo in Narok South Constituency on Wednesday during the conclusion of his two-day official visit to the region, the head of state confirmed that each beneficiary family received Sh200,000 directly via mobile money to assist in their resettlement outside the protected ecological area.
“We are today officially closing the long and painful chapter of people who were removed from the Mau Forest, which the county government of Narok will now manage,” President Ruto told residents at the public gathering.
The president emphasized that while previous political leaders had politicized the conservation dispute for years without resolving human displacement, his administration focused on delivering concrete solutions.
“Many politicians have talked of the Mau question, but I talked of the Mau answer. This is why we are here today closing this chapter,” Ruto said.
The compensation addresses evictions that took place six years ago to safeguard the vital Mau Forest water catchment area. In 2023, the government provided an initial Sh300,000 each to 2,000 families who were living in temporary tents within the forest zone to enable them to purchase land elsewhere.
Alongside the forest compensation package, President Ruto announced the government has acquired 5,800 acres of land to resettle squatters living on property formerly owned by the family of late Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Cheluget. The government is currently processing individual title deeds for the targeted beneficiaries.
Additionally, the president unveiled a Sh1.2 billion allocation for constructing Johana Ng’eno University in Emurua Dikirr Constituency and launched the 18-kilometer Mogondo-Cheramgoi-Mogor-Soit road project to improve connectivity in Narok County.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu commended the national executive for resolving the historical land issue and executing development infrastructure.
“The resettlement of Mau Forest evictees, construction of modern markets, affordable houses, and construction of roads across the country are a clear indication that this government has delivered,” Ntutu stated.
With the payout completed, management of the rehabilitated forest blocks officially transitions to the Narok County Government alongside national environmental conservation agencies.