From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Subject: LEAFLETS THREATENING BACKERS OF MAU EVICTION HIT STREETS IN SOUTH RIFT

LEAFLETS THREATENING THE BACKERS OF MAU FOREST EVICTION HAVE HIT THE STREETS AND VILLAGES IN SOME PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH RIFT.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kericho

Leaflets issuing threats to a particular community, whose members are thought to back the impending eviction of illegal squatters and land grabbers from the Mau Forest Complex have been sighted in some parts of the Central and South Rift regions.
Travelers from Molo, Solai, Subukia, Nakuru and Njoro area have confirmed having come across such poorly written leaflets being dropped at night on foot paths and partly along the river banks and the main roads by unknown people.

Some residents of Olenguruone, Elburgon, Bomet, Bureti have also confirmed having seen the leaflets, which are being circulated clandestinely.

But a frantic search for any of the document by this writer bore no fruits.
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But a visit to Nakuru and Molo district has revealed that three major rivers that feed the World-famous Lake Nakuru have dried up, owing to wanton destruction of forests upstream.

Also likely to dry up and follow suit is the Mara River, which is a trans-boundary river flowing and emptying its waters into Lake Victoria on the Tanzanian side of the border, between the towns of Musoma and Kinesi.

River Mara is also the source of water for the World-famous Serengeti National Game Park, which traverses the vast Serengeti plains, from Arusha to Ukerewe in Lake Victoria, near Musoma.

The latest report by experts says, the prevailing circumstance means that the salty Lake Nakuru, which is the home of thousands of flamingoes and a leading tourist attraction, is no longer a safe home for millions of flamingoes.

The deaths drying up of River Njoro, Makalia and Nderit have been blamed on massive destruction of the Mau Forest Complex.

Molo River, which also has its source in the Mau Forest dries up along its path before reaching Lake Nakuru. What is there now is disconnected pools and ponds, which are scattered here and there, but with very little water left, and as such cannot flow downward to Lake Nakuru.

River Pokerra, which is popularly known for its water being used for irrigation schemes in the semi-arid lower parts of Baringo, is also dwindling, no thanks to environmental degradation in the Mau Forest.
Pokerra River originates from Lembu Forest in Eldama Ravine, which is part of the larger Mau Forest Complex, which has 22 blocks namely Leleca, Eburru, Nassunet, Logomon, Baraget, Ndoinet, Tinet, East Mau and sources among others.

Other rivers that have been affected are Mara, Nyando, Sondu-Miriu
The officials of the Kenya Wildlife Service [KWS} have expressed fears that Lake Nakuru might be extinct in five years time.

The Assistant Director of KWS in charge of Central Rift region Ms Anne Kahihia was recently quoted as saying, “ We had good rains last year and the rivers flowed well into the Lake for three months .That is the water sources inside the Nakuru Game Park dried up many years ago ,”she said.

Ms Kahihia warned of the looming disaster if destruction of the Mau Forest Complex and other catchment areas is not stopped.

The Assistant Director disclosed that the Kenya Wildlife Services was currently spending the sums of Kshs.250,000 per month in providing water for wildlife at the Lake Nakuru National Game Park.

Water levels in River Mara is now said to be below tunnels for the annual Wildebeest migration and offer no excitement this year. The spectacular annual Wildebeest crossing sites, which attract thousands of visitors from all over the world is also expected to be badly affected this year.. A visit to one of the famous animal crossing in the Mara river last week showed that the spectacle is also dying off with the Wildebeest casually crossing across the shallow waters, and this offer no particular attraction.

“The Mara is usually swollen in flood at this time of the year, making it the most difficult for the animals to cross,” said the retired Mara area Chief Game Warden, James Ole Sindiyo, adding that these crossings have lost their value as being the centre of attractions to tourists and cameramen and women from all over the world.

There are between 2400 and 300 Hippos living and surviving in the Mara River, but these animals are also in danger because of the sharp drop in water levels. The low water level is directly blamed on the destruction of Mau Forest, and is said to be the lowest ever witnessed this century.

The fears persist that there will soon be mass deaths of the Hippos. Many crocodiles have already perished and carcasses are all over the river banks, sending out sticking smell, owing to lack of marine life. The Hippos may survive for the time being as they feed on grass at night, but these animals need a lot of waters in their resting pools to protect their bodies from the sun.

Meanwhile, the grand coalition government claims that the previous KANU regimes being responsible for allowing illegal settlers in the forest land has been dismissed as a fallacy and misrepresentation of facts.
“A government is a government”, said the national chairman of the UJDM Lt. Gen John Koech. He queried, “Why is the government paying all debts and other money borrowed by the previous regimes”.

Gen Koech told the government to compensate the settlers before eviction, and that it should stop making false statement about the previous regime, “These people were legally settled by the government of the day of developments, therein on the ground.
The settlers moved into the forest land, which was legally allocated to them and were issued with title deeds, and as such, the government must honor all the previous arrangements made by the previous regime. It should stop beating about the bush, because there has always been only one government in Kenya”, Gen. Koech concluded.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com