Jackson Gachoka is not shaving his hair until the People living in the Mau Forest are out.Jackson runs a barber shop in Yaya Centre -Nairobi and is a trained Pilot.
'I am not shaving my hair and beards until the people living legally or illegally in Mau Forest leave-The wildlife is threatened-and especially since Mau is Kenya's Biggest water catchment area.Without the Mau-there is no water.'He said.
The Mau Forest is the source of many rivers and Lakes in Kenya-It faces extinction with human settlements that have led to illegal logging and charcoal burning activities.Over 15 million Kenyans face death if the human settlement in the Mau is allowed to Continue.
The Mara river which is fed from the Mau is having low water levels.The recent wildebeest migration from the Mara to Serengeti was not as spectacular as it were in the past.The water levels have gone down drastically.
PRIME MINISTER
Politicians led by the Prime Minister have taken stands regarding the issue' since the Mau forest has been under encroachment for several years now after the government degazetted sections of the forest for settlement.
'I don't know much politics but the Prime Minister did well in taking a stand.Those people should be relocated.Some might have gotten the title deed genuinely but some did not.Those who did genuinely should be compensated'Jackson Gachoka says
The Prime Minister Raila Odinga took a stand Tuesday last week saying he is
willing to risk his career for this.He tabled the list of beneficiaries of the Mau Forest Land.
Top on the list was Ololarusi Investment Farm with 4,001 hectares on the Narok side of the Forest.Little Sisters of St Francis got 2,956 hectares among others.The list only sums up to 18,102 hectares yet the area under human settlement is believed to be over 150,000 hectares.
The list has top names including Gideon Moi-son of Kenya's 2nd President-Daniel Moi and other top politicians in various regimes.
POLITICS
Some politicians from the Rift Valley are not happy with the stand taken by the Prime Minster and it is alleged that some are inciting the settlers.
'People who know me-will tell you that i am a very neat person-so when they see me with the hair and beards-they ask.' Jackson narrates
' And i tell them-its about creating awareness about the Mau so that people can see the wrongs that are going on.'
Ksh 38.1 billion has been set aside as compensation for those who will have to move out of the Forest.Other politicians are pushing for forced evictions and blaming the government for acting like toothless dogs.
'I tell them to do something-wherever they are.Let them plant trees and increase the forest cover.Right now its below 10%.Thats alarming!At the same time the government should give civic education to people not to settle in forests.'He advises.
Jackson Gachoka is not shaving his hair until the People living in the Mau Forest are out.Jackson runs a barber shop in Yaya Centre -Nairobi and is a trained Pilot.
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