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Kenya: Tears, Anxiety As IDPs Arrive Home
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
6 May 2008
Posted to the web 5 May 2008
Nairobi
Thousands of displaced people began their emotional journey back home in military trucks and buses, amid confusion and uncertainty in an exercise that is bound to severely test the resilience of the Kibaki-Raila led Grand Coalition Government.
Claims of forceful resettlement and threats by Government officials further cast a dark cloud over the exercise.
This was unfolding on a day four MPs and a Cabinet minister lashed out at Lands minister, Mr James Orengo, over his stand on the resettlement of IDPs.
Uprooted and scattered by the bloodletting triggered by the disputed December 27 presidential elections, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are keenly aware that a botched resettlement plan for the IDPs could have far reaching political implications.
Displaced people prepare to board military trucks at Molo DC's office on Monday.
Dubbed, "Operation Rudi Nyumbani", the resettlement has been made possible by leaders of PNU and ODM - the two combatants at the elections that plunged the country into unprecedented chaos.
In Molo, one of the epicentres of post-election violence, the Rift Valley PC, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, supervised the exercise.
Seven Kenya Army trucks and two buses were used in the massive translocation never witnessed before in the country.
The more than 10,000 IDPs who had been camping in Molo will be resettled in 13 farms in the region.
They are Sirikwa, Kiambogo, Githirika, Muthenji, Nyota, Kangawa and Lagwenda.
Other farms are Sasumua, Willa, Muchorwe, Karirikania, Kadonye and Nyaruai.
Yesterday, the PC launched the resettlement exercise that will see thousands of IDPs return to their farms. The launch at the Molo District headquarters was, however, received with mixed feelings.
Some IDPs still preferred to remain in the camps, fearing for their lives, even as the PC reassured them on security.
But an upbeat Ms Rose Nyambura Thuo said: "It is the happiest moment of my life because I am going back to my farm though we are parting with friends I had gotten used to during the difficult times."
In a gesture that enmity by two communities living in the area had been buried, eight leaders from the Kalenjin community visited the camp and assured the victims that all was well.
"We welcome you back to your farms and we ask for forgiveness on behalf of our people," said Councillor Joshua Sigilai of Nyota Ward.
In Trans Nzoia and Marakwet districts, up to 3,000 IDPs started their journey back home with mixed feelings. Tents at the Kachibora camp were pulled down as displaced people boarded military trucks to return home.
They included Ms Eunice Gesara, a mother of four, who said she did not know what to expect on her first day home after four months at the camp.
"To be honest, I'm apprehensive about this trip. It is like going back to meet my tormentors," she told The Standard outside the camp.
But Mr Justus Masi, a village elder in Kiboiye, Cheragany, expressed optimism that the resettlement plan would succeed as it had the blessings of elders in the host community.
It was time to say good bye for displaced people at Kiambogo Farm in Molo as they were transported to their farms under tight security. Picture: Lucas Thuo
He said: "They came to the camp (in Kachibora) and sought forgiveness on behalf of their community. We hope that it was genuine and we will live in harmony."
Mr Abednego Atuya and his brother, Mr Jared Mecha, who earlier lived in Marakwet District, said everyone was told that they had to go home as the camp would be closed.
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But on Monday, the sheer scale of the exercise appeared to send the message that the Government would not countenance failure.
Water, Health, Energy and Education ministries have already deployed staff and materials for the resettlement of IDPs in Molo and Trans Nzoia districts.
Internal Security PS, Mr Francis Kimemia, said the efforts would be coordinated by the Special Programmes and Internal Security ministries.
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