SETTLEMENT.

SETTLEMENT.
JANE MUGAMBI 9TH JUNE 2011.
Over 30 families have been settled in South Ngariama ranch in Kirinyaga south district.
The families were evicted from Mt.Kenya forest 24 years ago and have been staying at Gathuthuma and Gatwe village in Kirinyaga central district.
According to Florence Wanjiku 80 who has been in the village,they were evicted by the government forcefully and promised that they were to be allocated land where they were to settle.
She said that since 1984,they have been waiting to be given a place to call home after their houses which were in the forest were demolished by police officers.
Ms.Wanjiku went on to say that whatever the government is pledging will come to reality when they will be given the 3 acres pieces of land.
According to the DC Patrick Muli,over 30 families have been allocated land in South Ngariama but due to the climatic conditions,they have vowed not to leave the village.
He said that the families have been resisting to move to the area since in Mwea it is dry and the altitude in Gathuthuma is very wet.
He went on to say that many have been used to doing casual jobs like picking tea,picking coffee to earn a livelihood citing that in Mwea there are no such labours for them thus making it hard for them to shift.
Mr.Muli added that genuine squatters who are known by the government are 30 citing more have started that the biggest percentage has been settled citing that they do not want to vacate the public land that a health center and a police post want to be put up.
The DC also said that the families have to vacate the public land so that construction of a police post can start citing that security in the area is questionable.