Politicians have been warned against inciting members of the public to resist ongoing operations to flush out individuals who have encroached Makunga Block Five forest in Saboti Sub County in Trans Nzoia County.
Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Samson Ojwang issued a warning during a briefing with members of the press outside his office in Kitale town adding that those who are behind inciting locals will be arrested and charged in the court of law.
The administrator maintained that the government, through security agencies, will not relent its efforts whose main objective was to safeguard all gazetted forests in the County.
“I have directed all our security agencies led by the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) to ensure all individuals that had encroached Makunga Block Five forest in Saboti have been arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law,” stated Ojwang.
The operation to flush out the invaders into the 500 acres Makunga forest kicked off Tuesday evening.
Ojwang told scribes that security officers were hunting down about 50 individuals accused of leading villagers to the forest
With electioneering fever gaining momentum, the county chief blamed a section of politicians battling for various elective seats in the area for orchestrating the encroachment illegality.
“In fact intelligence reports point fingers at politicians with most of them being losers in the just concluded party primaries,” disclosed Ojwang.
The Commissioner emphasized that the government would not allow such individuals to gain political mileage through outlawed activities and at the same time urged area residents against allowing politicians to misuse and put them in line of danger.
Ojwang urged locals who had invaded the forest to willingly vacate or face the full force of the law.
“We are also urging individuals in possession of dangerous weapons, including firearms, to voluntarily surrender before security officers ruthlessly go for them,” appealed Ojwang.
According to intelligence reports, a section of defiant locals in the area had invaded the said forest where they have been planting maize for the last one week, in complete defiance of government directive.