Clergy divided as Kenya moves to save forest, evict 40,000 settlers

August 16, 2018
By Frederick Nzwili, Religion News Service
National Catholic Reporter

NAIROBI, Kenya — When forest rangers arrived at Mau Forest Complex in June to evict thousands of illegal settlers, frightened villagers started moving out.

Villagers sought refuge at churches, schools and trading centers as smoke billowed from their homes, which were razed in the exercise. Churches, schools and crops have been burned in a clearing process that government officials say will save the main water supply.