The Ilchamus community, a Maa-speaking community in Kenya led by MP Elijah Memusi (Kajiado Central Constituency), has come out strongly to defend the legal status of Mukutani Forest in Baringo South, warning against what it describes as renewed political efforts to undermine conservation gains achieved since the forest was gazetted in 2017.
Mukutani Forest in Baringo South has recently drawn political attention, as the Baringo MP, Florence Jematiah, has been in a public dispute with the Chief Conservator of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Alex Lemarkoko, who is from the Ilchamus community.
Jematiah remarked on the demolition of Laromoru Primary School in Baringo South by the Kenya Forest Service because it was built on gazetted forest land.
“Mjinga aina gani, kukukuja kututoanisha hizi kwa nyumbani? Mtu anaitwa Alex Lemarkoko the conservator nakuangalia kwa macho; usitake vita na mimi kwa sababu hiyo vita utapata," Jematiah said.
Translation: How reckless can it be to force us out of our homes? Alex Lemarkoko, the conservator, I am addressing you directly. Do not provoke a confrontation with me because if you do, you will get exactly the fight you are seeking.”
She added, "You sit in your office and one day decide that this is a forest!"
The Maa legislators went on the offensive immediately, condemning the legislator, saying that Mukutani Forest, covering 13,195.8 hectares, was formally gazetted on October 27, 2017, through Legal Notice No. 265 of 2017, following extensive public participation involving members of the Ilchamus community, the acknowledged owners of the land.
"The Ilchamus Community donated the land for gazettement to help in the conservation of the forest, which is a unique dryland ecosystem with wide-ranging biodiversity that was fast disappearing thanks to constant invasion by livestock from the surrounding communities,” Memusi said.
"The elders of the Ilchamus Communities also hoped that the gazettement of the forest would not only forestall its grabbing but also act as a buffer zone between the community and the bandits."
The MPs affirmed that the establishment of the forest and increased government presence significantly reduced banditry in the area, allowing displaced families to return to their homes and contributing to sustained peace in Baringo South.
''It should be noted that Mukutani Forest is the reason for the prevailing peace in Baringo South today. Some members of the Ilchamus have been able to move back to their former homes because of the existence of Mukutani Forest. It should also be noted that the forest is one of the biggest development contributors to the new sub-county and the entire Baringo South," Memusi said.
"It should further be noted that the so-called Laromoru school was recently put up illegally inside a gazetted forest not for educational purposes but solely as a ruse to push the degazettement of the forest and to further dispossess the Ilchamus of their remaining land."
The lawmakers have called on the political leaders from the county to desist from personalising and politicising conservation matters, warning that environmental protection is a national interest.
"In the light of the foregoing, it is highly regrettable to see the members of Parliament from Baringo county attacking a civil servant, Alex Kemarkoko, who was merely executing his duties as per the law," Memusi remarked.
"As the Maa leaders, we want to call upon the leaders from Baringo to desist from personalizing, trivializing, and politicizing issues of grave National interest, which is conservation."
Lemanken Aramat (Narok East) said, "The Ilchamus are part of the Maasai community, and they should not be harassed because they do not have representation, or nobody is representing them. People should not take advantage of trying to harass the marginalised people who have been marginalised for decades in this country. Everybody has a right in every county they are in."
Rebecca Tonkei (Narok County MP) also weighed in on the matter saying, “My colleague used unprintable words against a civil servant. Alex Kemarkoko is a civil servant, like any other, and is unlawful. Calling him words like 'mjinga' is actually hitting him below the belt, something he cannot defend or protect himself against. This is going beyond his rights. Hon. Jematiah, Alex is rightfully holding that office, and desist from abusing Alex as you protect your political rights as we advance our politics, and let us not bring civil servants into our political agenda."
