Synopsis
Various IDP groups
are now emerging and its increasingly becoming difficult for the government to
settle the individuals displaced during 2007/08 the Post Election Violence
since it cannot ascertain their claims.
With less than five months to general
election, it is unfortunate that thousands of IDPs are still languishing in
make shift camps, five years since they were displaced. The government has used
approximately 2 billion Kenya shilling in the resettlement program since it was
initiated.The government has encountered
challenges in acquiring land for the IDPs despite the fact that funds for the
same has been allocated. It has, occasional times have been compelled to
withdraw land acquisition process in identified areas owing to rebellion from
the natives. This has brought spotlight to the state of reconciliation and be
as it may; it leaves much to be desired in peace and reconciliation efforts.
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| An IDP camp |
Matching
to president’s home
That aside, the number of IDPs seems not
to be reducing instead some are now emerging albeit the efforts put forth by
the government. Recently, group purporting to be IDPs were stopped from
matching to the president’s home protesting the delay in resettlement. The
government has since rejected their claims saying that they are not genuine
IDPs. Another group from Kibera staged a demonstration on the streets of
Nairobi claiming they were displaced and has since not received compensation
from the government. This begs the question, where have they been for the past
4 years?
Indemnity
Those masquerading as IDPs have turned
the IDP resettlement program into a circus. It is difficult to differentiate
genuine IDPs and fake ones who are present at the camps during the day and go
back to their houses at night. The fund was meant to indemnify the victims but
as it is turning out some are out to unlawfully gain from the program at the
expense of deserving cases.
