Almost five years after they were uprooted from their homes 152 Internally Displaced Persons have sued the government seeking more than Sh75 million compensation.

They have have accused the Internal Security ministry of neglecting them. Led by Sammy Gathaburu, the IDPs say they have suffered in camps since the 2007/08 post-election violence in which more than 1,200 killed, property worth millions of shillings destroyed and more than 500,000 people left homeless. The IDPs are from Gituamba in Trans Nzoia, where they had lived for more than 10 years engaged in farming and business.

However, in 2007 they fled their homes when they were attacked by armed youth groups after the announcement of disputed presidential result in the 2007 general election. They say in the ensuing violence police failed to provide security resulting in their displacement, looting of business and destruction of their property. The IDPs accuse the police commissioner for failing to provide security and failed to heed the distress call. "The commissioner of police and his officers ignored the security and intelligence recommendations and they abetted the acts of trespass by the criminal elements who wantonly destroyed property at Gituamba area," they say.

Following the attacks and destruction of their properties, they said, they now rely on well wishers for provisions of some their basic needs. And now they want the court to intervene and grant them justice. They are asking the court to make a declaration that police as government agent failed to maintain security, law and order which resulted in loss of lives and properties. They further want court to hold that they are entitled to compensation for emotional and physical anguish suffered. Also sought is an order declaring that their rights under the Bill of Rights were violated.