Kenya Kwanza insincere on forest conservation – Raila
Raila Odinga, leader of Azimio La Umoja, has weighed in on the contentious Mau Forest issue, claiming that the Kenya Kwanza administration is not committed to preserving the water tower.
Raila expressed regret that the illicit encroachers had returned to the forest and were continuing to devastate the resource.
“I have been frequently flying over the forest and what I’m currently seeing is destruction to the forest and that should stop with immediate effect,” Raila said.
In Narok County, he spoke during a Sunday prayer service and thanksgiving for ODM-nominated MCA Christine Lemeon.
Senator Godfrey Osotsi of Vihiga, former Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, former Nominated Senator Judith Pareno, former Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta, and Narok attorney Martin Kamwaro were among the dignitaries in attendance.
Raila added that the government’s decision to allow people to cut down trees in forests is a clear indication that it is unaware of the need to protect all water structures.
“Many people are depending on these forests for their livelihoods and destroying them means destroying their lives,” he said.
He reiterated that, when he was Prime Minister of the grand coalition government, his opponents used the controversial Mau forest issue to oppose him politically.
Raila claimed that his opponents used the preservation of the largest water tower in East Africa as a political weapon to deny him votes in the extensive Rift Valley region.
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“I fought hard because of my stand to conserve all the water towers in the country but Mau should be rehabilitated,” Raila.
Following the church service, Raila and other Azimio leaders conducted a meet and greet in Narok.
At one point, police personnel obstructed Raila’s motorcade near Narok Boys High School as they traveled to Narok town.
After a brief discussion with the police, Raila and his colleagues were permitted to continue.
Raila stated that the Mau forest must be preserved at all costs because millions of people depend on it. He thanked the Maasai community for its support in the rehabilitation of the Mau forest.
The former prime minister criticized the Kenya Kwanza government for reversing the gains of devolution by interfering with the mandate of the devolved units.
Wamalwa, for his part, defended Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, arguing that he was misquoted regarding the recognition of President William Ruto.
“I have just spoken to him on the phone and he said that the journalists misquoted him. He said Ruto’s legitimacy will only be confirmed with the opening of the IEBC server, ” Wamalwa said.
Kenya Kwanza insincere on forest conservation – Raila