Kitoni Gatobu
25 April 2008
opinion
Nairobi — It is now four months since the people of Kenya were brutally evicted from their farms in Rift Valley and many other parts of the country.
Much has happened since then, including the formation of the coalition government, but the uprooted people are yet to feel the effect of this political progress.
A visit at the Kirathimo and Word of Faith camps in Limuru, and several other camps proves this. Only the Red Cross and other organisations and individuals have come to the solid support of these people. They themselves accept that they are yet to feel the effect of the Government's entry into the situation.
President Kibaki's repeated claim that the issue of resettlement is a top priority is an excellent idea, but its implementation seems to be taking too long. I do understand that the resettlement may be a long process, especially in the case where the displaced will have to be allocated new land. But even before that, more should be done to grant these Kenyans better lives.
At the Kirathimo camp, for instance, up to seven people share a mattress. Some sleep on the hard floor. Food, too, is becoming a problem and the people are afraid that the Red Cross could be gradually running out of vital supplies. As hundreds remain in camps, their fellow Kenyans are struggling with sky rocketing cost of living. But the Government is putting its priorities in a bloated Cabinet. Some MPs are now pressing to form an opposition in order to check the Government. What on earth do they want to check the Government for if they have not checked it for those suffering so far?
And how come they question Government excesses only when they have their personal interests affected? ODM had a solid argument for opposing the Safaricom IPO, but once the party was accommodated in the Grand Coalition Government, it no longer has issues against the controversial IPO. It's only fair to help the people heal their physical and emotional wounds by giving them a better life ahead of their resettlement. The women in the camps are quite hardworking and are now making baskets and other pieces of art to help restabilise their economic lives. It's this determination that makes me believe that given a little more support, these dear Kenyans can get on with life really well.
I strongly believe it should not be business as usual as Kenyans suffer in camps. The Government finances should now enter into the noble commitment of helping these people before several other priorities are implemented.
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