The government has paid Sh2.6 billion to 13,000 families evicted from the Narok Mau Forest six years ago, with each household receiving Sh200,000 to help them rebuild their lives away from the critical water tower.
President William Ruto announced the payments on Wednesday during a ceremony at Sogoo in Narok South Constituency, as he concluded a two-day development tour of Narok County.
The funds were sent to beneficiaries through M-Pesa.
Ruto said the payout was part of efforts to resolve the long-running Mau resettlement dispute and allow conservation of the forest to proceed without leaving affected families without support.
“We are today officially closing the long and painful chapter of people who were removed from the Mau Forest, which will now be managed by the County Government of Narok,” Ruto said.
He said the government had in 2023 provided Sh300,000 each to another 2,000 families who were living in tents inside the forest to enable them to relocate and acquire land elsewhere.
The President criticized what he described as years of political debate over the Mau issue without a lasting solution.
“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,” he said.
Ruto also announced that the government had acquired 5,800 acres to settle families living on land associated with the family of former Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Cheluget.
“We are processing title deeds of the people living on the land after buying the Cheluget farm,” he said.
During the Narok tour, Ruto also announced Sh1.2 billion for the construction of Johana Ng’eno University in Emurua Dikirr Constituency.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone, he said the institution would expand access to higher education while creating jobs and attracting investment to the area.
“You told me, as residents of Emurua Dikirr, that you want a university. Today, I have brought Sh1.2 billion to construct the university that will be named after our brother Johana Ng’eno,” he said.
The President also inspected Mamboleo Modern Market, which is expected to accommodate nearly 500 traders, and handed over the Emurua Dikirr Modern Market to small-scale traders.
He further laid the foundation stone for Trans Mara East Kenya Medical Training College hostels and launched construction of the 18-kilometre Mogondo-Cheramgoi-Mogor-Soit road.
On security, Ruto warned against violence and criminal activity, saying development required stability and peaceful coexistence.
“We want peace in this area. We want unity among the people here so that we can plan and pursue development together. We do not want hostility, conflict or chaos,” he said.
Turning to politics, Ruto challenged his critics to present their development records ahead of the next General Election, claiming his administration had implemented at least 80 per cent of its 2022 election pledges.
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