Narok County Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei has backed the government’s commitment to protect the Maasai Mau forest from encroachment.
The lawmaker said the entire forest should be fenced and left to regenerate naturally noting that the ‘Shamba System’ way of farming would not be ideal in the Maasai Mau forest.
She spoke during the official launch of her office at Narok town where she reminded the residents that President William Ruto is an environmentalist and he would put relevant programmes to protect all forests in the country.
She recalled that President Ruto had assured the Maa community before the elections that he would protect the forest land passionately once he got to power.
“The issue of politicizing Mau Forest should come to an end. The government has committed to put a fence around the fence,” she said.
She thanked the President for appointing her predecessor Ms. Soipan Tuya to the position of Cabinet Secretary Environment which she was approved by the Parliament yesterday.
On National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), the women representative said the money will freely benefit the vulnerable in the society who include persons living with disability, women and youth.
In order to ensure the funds got to the needy group, the legislator said she would constitute a committee in every ward that would help to identify issues to prioritize.
“We want whatever little we get to benefit the deserving population. That is why we will form committees in the 30 wards who will help coordinate the fund,” she said.
Also present during the event was Narok Gender Director Agnes Ngeno and Narok County NGAAF coordinator Soila Kudate.
By Koyiet Kaleke
