Dave Opiyo, Barnabas Bii and Casper Waithaka
25 September 2008
Nairobi — Thousands of Kenyans are still languishing in camps nearly seven months after the principals in the post-election crisis reached a compromise.
The resettlement of the more than 350,000 people made homeless by violence earlier this year was one of the four agreements reached by the National Dialogue and Reconciliation team led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
Falling under Agenda Two, the agreement involved dealing with the humanitarian crisis arising from the violence and restoring fundamental liberties, including provision of assistance to the displaced.
However, displaced people's camps still dot many parts of the country. In the North Rift, 23,684 people are still stuck in various camps stretching from Burnt Forest to Lodwar.
Gituamba in Trans Nzoia and Lokichar in Lodwar house the highest number, with 6,000 each, followed by Eldoret Showground, which has 4,922.
There are 3,600 in Burnt Forest, 2,000 in Lodwar, 982 in Timboroa and another 180 at Noigam in Trans Nzoia.
Some of the occupants have vowed not to leave, saying the compensation offered by the Government was inadequate.
The Government has so far distributed over Sh170 million to 17,032 families in Uasin Gishu District and more than Sh64 million in Trans Nzoia East in the ongoing "Operation Rudi Nyumbani".
Each family received Sh10,000 to buy household items while some will get an additional Sh25,000 for building materials.
Might lose out
"Some of the IDPs are reluctant to return to their farms as they fear they might lose out on the Sh25,000," Uasin Gishu district commissioner, Mr Leonard Ngaluma said.
The administrator said some of the victims were setting fresh conditions because they had exhausted their money.
"Whatever is paid out is meant to assist people to resettle and is not compensation for losses," he said.
In Trans Nzoia East District, 900 families have each been paid Sh10,000. The DC, Mr Seif Matata, says more than 1,000 others will be paid Sh25,000 each to put up shelters.
But displaced people in various camps claimed hostility was still palpable.
"Dishing out Sh10,000 is not a solution. Counselling should be done before people are made to return to their farms," Mr Christopher Kiprotich, a victim, said.
Some of the displaced people have asked the Government to use the money to buy land in areas they consider safe.
Some of them have even sold their land and migrated to areas close to their ancestral homes and are demanding "full" compensation for losses incurred.
"What the Government is giving us is a drop in the sea considering we incurred heavy losses after it failed to protect our lives and property," said Mr Samuel Mwangi, who lost property worth over Sh2 million.
A Nation survey revealed that little resettlement was taking place as most refugees were demanding that the Government allocate them more funds, rebuild destroyed houses and provide household utensils and farm implements.
"The Government should allocate us enough resources otherwise we will not move," Ms Mercy Wanjiru from Ainaptich, Uasin Gishu District said.
However, some of the people who have returned to their farms are settling down. "I have no problem with my neighbours. They are ready to accommodate me," Mr Kariuki Mwangi of Chepkanga said.
In Limuru, occupants of two camps who are yet to receive the Sh10,000 have vowed not to return to their Rift Valley homes.
Many of the 385 families at the Word of Faith and the nearby Ngecha Pefa churches are from Kiambaa in Eldoret.
Among them are survivors of the fire that destroyed the Kenya Assemblies of God Church, killing more than 20.
Mr Anthony Ng'ang'a, the leader of the families living at the Word of Faith Church, said that if they get the money, they will buy a 40-acre plot in Laikipia.
"We will each contribute Sh5,000 and buy land along the Gilgil-Ol-kalou highway," he said. "We plan to leave the camp honourably."
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How much would pirates pay for insider infromation on military goods headed for mombasa? The kenyan military should examine its own patriotism, right from top to bottom, billions of shillings worth of military hardware betrayed into the hands of freedom fighters or rebel armies. In the mean time, the VP supports the disgraced electoral commission, ..