Michael Njuguna And James Kariuki
13 May 2008
Nairobi — About 80 per cent of the 55,000 internally displaced people, who had sought refuge in Molo Town, have returned to their farms.
District commissioner Katee Mwanza on Monday said that he expects more than 95 per cent of the refugees to have left for their farms in the next three days.
Retired president Daniel Moi is expected to tour Molo and Kuresoi on Tuesday to support the resettlement.
Mr Moi's press secretary, Mr Lee Njiru, told the Nation that the former president will visit Keringet in Kuresoi constituency and Muchorwe in Molo, where he will address those returning home and their neighbours.
Mr Mwanza thanked local leaders and Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, in particular, for supporting the resettlement.
The DC said Mr Cheruiyot sent elders, who visited at least 13 farms, and talked to returning families and their neighbours on the need for peaceful coexistence.
"We have hired about 20 vehicles that will transport the remaining families to their farms within the next three days," the DC said.
Mr Mwanza said that among those to be ferried to their farms today are displaced people from Kipkelion and Sotik.
The uprooted people who had rented houses in trading centres and used to cultivate leased plots will be given cash to enable them rent rooms. These people are part of the 1,700 who had initially expressed fear of returning home.
The DC said that although the Government had deployed adequate security personnel in the areas that were affected by the ethnic violence, peace talks were being given priority to help the affected communities bond.
Way forward
In Nyandarua North District, leaders on Monday urged the 23,000 displaced people, who have been hosted by residents for three months, to return to their homes.
Area DC Hassan Farah, Ol Kalou MP Erastus Muriithi and Nyandarua County Council chairman John Matheri, said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had shown Kenyans the way forward by agreeing to share power.
The leaders were speaking during the first meeting of the district peace committee meeting.
The post-poll chaos victims are from Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kericho, Kipkelion, Koibatek, Lugari and Kisumu.
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