President William Ruto has announced that the Government has released KSh2.6 billion to support 13,000 people who were evicted from the Mau Forest, saying the funds will enable the affected families to find alternative places to settle and rebuild their lives.

President Ruto said each of the 13,000 beneficiaries will receive KSh200,000, describing the payment as a major step towards resolving a matter that has affected thousands of families for years.

According to President Ruto, the Government has taken the decision to provide the financial support after recognising the hardship faced by the families who were removed from the Mau Forest. He said many of those affected have lived with uncertainty, pain and economic difficulties for the past six years.

President Ruto said the KSh2.6 billion allocation is intended to give the affected families an opportunity to start afresh by helping them secure alternative places to settle. He maintained that the Government is committed to finding lasting solutions to historical challenges affecting communities in different parts of the country.

The President said the payment marks an important stage in efforts to bring closure to the long-running Mau Forest issue, which has remained a sensitive matter in Narok County and has frequently featured in political debates during election periods.

President Ruto also announced that the Government has lifted the caveat placed on land bordering the Mau Forest, allowing landowners in the affected areas to freely undertake agricultural activities without restrictions associated with the previous land status.

He said the removal of the caveat will provide greater certainty to landowners and farmers who depend on the land for their livelihoods. The move is expected to allow residents to make better use of their farms and plan their agricultural activities without continued uncertainty over the status of their property.

President Ruto said the Government’s actions are aimed at ending what he described as the continued politicisation of the Mau Forest issue during every election cycle.

He said the measures being implemented provide a clear and lasting solution to the concerns surrounding the Mau Forest and the communities living around it.

According to the President, the Government wants to ensure that the Mau Forest is protected while at the same time addressing the legitimate concerns of people who have been affected by decisions relating to the conservation of the forest.

President Ruto further said that the Mau Forest now has a definite title deed, a development he said will strengthen the Government’s ability to protect the forest from further encroachment.

He explained that having a clear title for the forest will make it easier for authorities to establish the boundaries of the protected area and prevent illegal occupation and further destruction of the forest.

President Ruto said the Mau Forest remains one of Kenya’s most important water towers because it supports millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on rivers and water systems originating from the forest.

He stressed that protecting the Mau Forest is therefore not only about conserving trees but also about safeguarding water resources that support agriculture, livestock keeping, businesses and households across the country.

The President said the Government will continue working to strengthen conservation measures while ensuring that communities affected by past interventions receive appropriate support.

In addition to the Mau Forest compensation programme, President Ruto announced another major land intervention in Narok South, where the Government has purchased the 5,800-acre Cheluget land, formerly associated with a Provincial Commissioner.

The purchase, according to President Ruto, brings an end to a 30-year land dispute involving about 600 families who have lived on the land for decades without secure ownership.

President Ruto said the dispute had subjected the affected families to years of uncertainty and the constant fear that they could eventually be evicted from the land they considered home.

For more than three decades, the families living on the Cheluget land lacked the security of tenure that comes with formal ownership documents. The President said this situation prevented them from making long-term investments on their farms and limited their ability to confidently develop their homes and agricultural activities.

He said the Government’s acquisition of the land will now provide a lasting solution to the problem and give the affected families greater confidence about their future.

President Ruto announced that the Government expects to complete the process next month by issuing title deeds to the 600 families.

The issuance of title deeds will formally secure the families’ ownership of the land and end decades of uncertainty over their homes and farms.

President Ruto said the Government’s intervention demonstrates its commitment to resolving historical land injustices and disputes through practical solutions rather than allowing affected communities to continue living in fear.

He noted that families that have occupied land for decades need security of tenure so that they can invest in their farms, improve their homes and develop their livelihoods without fear of eviction.

The President said access to title deeds will also give the beneficiaries the opportunity to plan for the future and make productive investments on their land.

For the affected families, the issuance of title deeds is expected to mark the end of a long period of uncertainty and provide them with formal recognition of their ownership.

President Ruto said the Government’s efforts in Narok are part of a broader programme aimed at addressing historical land challenges while promoting development and conservation.

He said the Government is seeking to balance the need to protect critical natural resources such as the Mau Forest with the need to address the welfare and legitimate concerns of communities living around protected areas.

The President maintained that the Mau Forest must remain protected because of its importance to Kenya’s water systems and the millions of people who depend on it.

At the same time, he said the Government must ensure that people who have been affected by past decisions are supported to rebuild their lives.

President Ruto said the KSh2.6 billion payment to the 13,000 Mau Forest evictees, the lifting of the caveat on land bordering the forest, the acquisition of the Cheluget land and the planned issuance of title deeds to 600 families are all part of efforts to provide permanent solutions to long-standing challenges in Narok.

He said these measures are intended to replace years of uncertainty with clear government action and provide affected families with an opportunity to move forward.

The President also emphasised the importance of ending the cycle in which the Mau Forest issue becomes a major political subject during every election year.

He said the Government’s interventions are designed to provide a clear and permanent framework for both conservation and the welfare of communities affected by the Mau Forest question.

President Ruto said the Government will continue protecting the Mau Forest as a critical water tower while ensuring that landowners and surrounding communities have clarity over their rights and responsibilities.

He said the availability of a definite title deed for the Mau Forest will strengthen conservation efforts by providing a clear legal basis for protecting the forest against further encroachment.

The President said the Government’s approach is based on the understanding that environmental conservation and community development must go hand in hand.

He maintained that Kenya cannot afford to lose critical water towers because of uncontrolled human activity, while communities that have been affected by conservation measures must also receive appropriate assistance.

President Ruto said the interventions announced in Narok demonstrate the Government’s determination to address long-standing problems and provide affected families with practical solutions.

For the 13,000 people who were evicted from the Mau Forest, the KSh2.6 billion support package is expected to provide an opportunity to secure alternative settlements and begin rebuilding their lives.

For the 600 families affected by the Cheluget land dispute, the planned issuance of title deeds next month is expected to provide long-awaited security of tenure.

President Ruto said the Government will continue implementing programmes that address historical challenges while supporting economic development and protecting Kenya’s natural resources.

He said the ultimate goal is to ensure that families can live, farm and invest without fear, while important environmental resources such as the Mau Forest remain protected for future generations.

The President said the latest measures should therefore be viewed as a major step towards bringing lasting closure to two of Narok’s long-running land and conservation challenges.

He maintained that the Government has chosen to address the issues through concrete actions, including financial compensation, removal of restrictions, acquisition of disputed land and issuance of title deeds.

President Ruto said these interventions will give thousands of families renewed hope and allow them to plan for their future with greater confidence.

He further reiterated that the protection of the Mau Forest remains a national priority because of its role in sustaining water supplies, agriculture and livelihoods across Kenya and beyond.

With the compensation of the 13,000 Mau Forest evictees, the lifting of the caveat on neighbouring land, the confirmation of the forest’s title and the resolution of the Cheluget land dispute, President Ruto said the Government is moving towards a new chapter in addressing the long-standing issues that have affected communities in Narok.

He said the Government will now focus on ensuring that the promises made are fully implemented, including the timely disbursement of the KSh2.6 billion to the affected families and the issuance of title deeds to the 600 Cheluget beneficiaries next month.

President Ruto said these steps will help restore confidence among affected communities and create a foundation for sustainable development, secure land ownership and stronger environmental conservation in Narok County.