Forgotten IDPs still waiting for state aid

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the signing of the National Peace Accord on February 28, 2008. More than 100,000 people left homeless by post-election violence five years ago have yet to be resettled. Photo/FILE  NATION

By LILIAN OCHIENG'
Posted  Friday, April 19   2013 

More than 100,000 people left homeless by post-election violence five years ago have yet to be resettled.

Most of them did not register as internally displaced and live Nyanza and Western provinces. They say they have been forgotten because they did not register and are now pinning their hopes on a new law that protects IDPs.

More than 650,000 people lost their homes during the bloodshed that broke out after Raila Odinga disputed the 2007 presidential election results leading to the deaths of more than 1,100 people.

Two months of fighting was brought to an end by a power-sharing agreement that created a coalition government.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is one of three suspects facing trial at the International Criminal Court over the violence. The other suspects are Vice-President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang.

About 350,000 of the people displaced by the violence moved into the 120 registered camps across Kenya.

The remaining 300,000 moved in with relatives or settled in different towns. They are officially categorised as “integrated” IDPs. They include the 127,000 in western Kenya.

Compensation

In the last five years, the vast majority of those living in IDP camps have either returned to their homes or been resettled elsewhere.

The government compensated most of the 6,800 households registered. Each was given Sh10,000, while an extra Sh25,000 was given to those who lost property such as homes, land and businesses.

The IDPs living in Nyanza, however, are still waiting either to be resettled or to receive the compensation. Many say the government has forgotten about them. Nelson Owegi, formerly living in Kiambu town, is the chairman of a group that represents IDPs in Nyanza. He lost his business and car in the violence.

“The government has concentrated on IDPs who are in the camps,” Owegi said. “We genuine IDPs who took refuge in churches have been forgotten.”

Nyanza PC Francis Mutie says: “Right now, there is no hope for the IDPs in Nyanza to get the Sh25,000 because they were not budgeted for this financial year.” Rights groups in Kenya have accused the Kibaki government of providing very little support to the ‘integrated’ IDPs.

There are also serious questions about the whereabouts of Sh250 million of donor money earmarked for IDPs.

Special Programmes Ministry Permanent secretary Andrew Mondoh says the new government intended to resettle all of the 127,000 “integrated” IDPs.

Mr Owegi says that they sued the government last year holding it responsible for killings, rapes and the destruction of property during 2007-08.

IDPs like Owegi are hoping to take advantage of a law that came into force late last year to obtain assistance from the government. The law enforces United Nations guiding principles for protecting the displaced.

“We have now pinned our hopes on the new law. Even though we were promised resettlement (by the government), nothing is forthcoming.”Mr Henry Maina, the director of the international advocacy group, Article 19 East Africa, says the new law should help the IDPs who are yet to receive government assistance.