NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 11 – Opposition Leader Raila Odinga has accused President William Ruto’s administration of abetting the destruction of the endangered Mau Forest expressing concern that illegal encroachment of the water catchment area has began yet again.
During the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance rally in Narok County, Odinga urged the residents to support the coalition’s call for mass action saying that President Ruto cannot be trusted to protect Mau Forest.
“I said I was ready to go and sell Mandazi in Kibera but Mau must be protected. When I fly above the Mau Forest in a helicopter, I see the Mau forest burning. If we are not cautious Mau will be gone,” said Odinga.
“President Ruto comes here to tell lies on Mau Environmental Conservation but deep down in his heart, he doesn’t believe that Mau can be conserved,” he added.
Odinga warned the poor conservation of the Mau Forest has led to the drying up of the Maasai Mara conservancy which depends on the water catchment area.
“You can now see the Mara is drying up because of the soil taken from Mau and taken to Lake Victoria. We must ensure that Mau is protected. If Mau is not protected then Mara conservancy will die out,” he said.
Mau Conservancy is leading followed by the Central highlands and the western region in terms of fire incidences from the study of reported cases within the KFS.
He faulted the move by Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu to sign into law a Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan saying the new law will be a threat to the Wildebeest in the conservancy.
Odinga said the new law which allows that legalizes the killing of “excess” wildlife was hurriedly passed pointing out it will lead to game hunting.
“They passed the law hurriedly in five minutes or so. The law gives them the leeway to kill wild animals in the name of culling. That law must be removed so that Mara can be conserved using the status quo,” he said.
Maasai Mara is one of the greatest spectacles of animal migration on earth: hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle making their annual trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park across the border into the country.
Erratic weather linked to climate change has brought more frequent and severe droughts, and sporadic flooding, to Mara’s fragile ecosystem, leaving the wildebeest increasingly devoid of grazing pasture.
This is not only leading to fewer animals migrating to Kenya but also resulting in them staying for less time.
