More than 200 survivors of mudslides that hit parts of Keiyo South District last month are now stranded after they were forced out of Sabor Forest.
The families had been camping at Toroplongon, Chemwabul and Chororget primary schools since the disaster that killed 14 people, but were moved to the forest after the schools re-opened.
But yesterday, armed forest guards kicked them out of the water catchment, further worsening their woes.
Simon Kipchumba, a survivor of Chemwabul landslide, said the local Provincial Administration had informed them that a parcel of land to resettle them had been found.
He added that the chief had told them they should be moved since learning at the institutions they had been camping had to continue.
“But we were shocked when a contingent of armed forest guards arrived and ordered us out, saying they had been instructed to not allow us camp there,” said Kipchumba.
He added that they were told to gather their belongings and immediately leave the area.
Kipchumba said the families were left confused and had to spend Wednesday night by the roadside in the cold.
“We do not know who to turn or where to go because it was the same government which brought us here that has kicked us out,” he said.
They demanded a permanent solution to their predicament. However, when contacted, the County Forest Co-ordinator Dennis Kerengo said the families were brought there illegally and had to be ejected because their settlement there had not been sanctioned.
“Apparently, we are under instructions not to allow anybody to camp in the forest until a report by a task force formed by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga approves such,” said Kerengo.
He said they feared imposters posing as landslide survivors would seize the opportunity to occupy the forest, thinking the ownership will be passed to them.
