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Kenya: State Ultimatum to Clashes Victims
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The Nation (Nairobi)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Sammy Cheboi
Nairobi
Thousands of internal refugees camping at the Eldoret ASK showground have until Friday to decide whether to go back to their farms or remain at the camp, the Government has said.
Rift Valley provincial commissioner Noor Hassan Noor cautioned those who have farms against being misled by a few criminals who did not own any land and who resided in towns.
"You have until Friday to make a decision. We will not force you, but it will be in your best interest to go back," said the administrator during a tour of the camp on Tuesday.
Mr Noor dismissed claims that most of the families were unwilling to return to their farms. Genuine farmers, he said, were ready to go back.
He said that the Government would provide those returning to their farms with transitional kits such as iron sheets, timber and food rations throughout the year.
Before the PC's arrival, confusion and uncertainty engulfed the camp that is home to more than 14,000 violence victims.
The refugees were not sure whether they would be going back to their farms later in the day as planned.
They consulted and brainstormed for the better part of the morning on their resettlement.
By noon, the refugees' hopes of returning to their farms by the end of the day dwindled. The trucks that were expected to ferry them were nowhere in sight.
Consider views
"Why are they ignoring our sentiments and resorting to forcing resolutions down our throats? We are the victims and our views have to be considered," said an angry woman.
Top on their list of demands is compensation and security once they are back to their farms. The lack of houses in their farms also made many think twice about returning.
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"Won't this make it easy for our erstwhile hostile neighbours to attack us again?" a youth, who did not want to identify himself, asked.
However, differences among the displaced came to the fore as some argued that those hesitant had no farms.
They alleged that those who rented houses or lived in forest land feared losing compensation.
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