Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren has launched a fresh attack on a group of legislators dubbed the “Maa MPs” over their defence of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko following the demolition of Laromoru Primary School in Mukutani Forest, Baringo South.
The lawmakers held a press briefing last week, defending Lemarkoko amid criticism from a section of MPs over the demolition.
Kamuren rejected what he termed ethnic-based representation, insisting that Members of Parliament are elected to represent constituencies, not communities.
“In matters of constitution, there is nothing like Maa members of Parliament. The law specifies that a particular member of Parliament represents a particular constituency, and it is spelt correctly. I’m telling you that you messed up and went against the constitution because Baringo South has a member of Parliament elected by the people of Baringo South,” Kamuren said.
He emphasised that the Ilchamus community of Baringo South is satisfied with his leadership, describing the remarks by the MPs as unfair and misplaced.
“You’re trying to say you’re speaking on behalf of Maa; you’re specific about which tribe and where you represent. My people from Ilchamus are from Baringo South. They are happy and are the ones who elected me, and I represent them well. Next time, I urge you to refrain from discussing matters concerning other constituencies. That was unfair, uncalled for, and unwanted, and you’re missing the point,” he added.
Regarding the demolition of Laromoru Primary School, Kamuren acknowledged that KFS had destroyed the school, but he stated he had no personal grievances against the Chief Conservator.
“Speaking of Laromoru School, the children in that location – it’s evident their school was destroyed by KFS, which is, yes, the Chief Conservator is Alex, and we don’t have any problem with him. KFS came on a Sunday and destroyed the entire school, which is a temporary school made of iron sheets up to grade 6, including the administration block and toilets.”
He said the school was established as part of efforts to address long-standing insecurity in the banditry-prone region.
“This is a school that sits on a banditry-prone location, which has been affected for over 25 years by the bandits among the North Rift Valley communities, which had this problem,” he noted.
Kamuren added that education was introduced as a tool to promote peace and stability.
“We started the school because education is one form of ending banditry. We sat with the communities, starting the education programmes. These people were evicted 25 years ago, and now they are coming back to their area because stability and peace have been brought to the area.”
He said peace efforts had united previously conflicting communities.
“The communities which were evicted long ago and are now coming back home, the Tugens, Ilchamus, Pokot, and the Endorois, they’ve been fighting, and we’ve united them, and their place is Mukutani.”
Questioning the selective demolition, Kamuren asked, “Why was the only school built for the Pokot community destroyed and not the one for Ilchamus, Tugen, or Endorois? Why target one community in Mukutani? Do we choose peace or conflict?”
He appealed for the protection of children’s right to education, urging that the school be allowed to operate temporarily as consultations continue.
“You cannot deny a child education unless you’re not human. If KFS has a problem with that school, let the school proceed temporarily as we look for a consultative way of solving that problem. Why leave the innocent child to suffer on account of some behaviours?”
Meanwhile, Vihiga MP and Public Petitions Committee Chairperson Ernest Kagesi tabled a report in the National Assembly on a petition by Baringo residents challenging the declaration of Mukutani Forest as a public forest.
“The Committee established that there was insufficient public participation and a lack of consultation with the National Land Commission and all affected communities, which directly contravened the provisions of the Constitution and the Forest Conservation and Management Act.”
The report recommended that due process under Section 34 of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, be followed.
Kamuren directed that the school be rebuilt immediately.
“I want within 14 days to see that school running and repaired within 14 days, and I want the school to be reconstructed and go on,” he concluded.
