MPs blame colleagues for IDP's plight

Written By:Carol Gakii/Hallyghan Agade,    Posted: Thu, Apr 21, 2011

A group of Members of Parliament from Central and Rift Valley provinces are now accusing a section of politicians of trying to sabotage the process of resettling the internally displaced persons.
The MPs say some of their colleagues were politicizing the process hence frustrating efforts by the government to resettle people displaced by the 2007/2008 post election violence.
Led by Molo MP Joseph Kiuna and his Mukurweini counterpart Kabando wa Kabando, the group said resettling of IDPs should be prioritized and called on their colleagues to stop using their plight to advance their political ambitions.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament buildings Thursday, the MPs called on the government to expedite the process to ease the suffering of those living in camps more than three years after the violence.
Meanwhile, IDPs from Nakuru who were blocked from accessing their new land in Trans-Nzoia have been taken back to their former camps.
Irate residents from Kitale blocked the 50 families from Rongai, Nakuru from  being resettled on the land bought for them by the government.
Their arrival triggered tension and provoked demonstrations from local IDPs and thousands of squatters.
Residents and local politicians carrying placards blocked the Endebess-Suam Road near Kwanza District Commissioner's office and refused to give way to the convoy of the IDPs.
Members of Umoja Clash Victims and Trans-Nzoia Squatter Alliance staged demonstrations in Kitale to protest the planned resettlement of the families from Nakuru.
The IDPs arrived Wednesday at 6am but could not reach the 1,000 acres of land in Molem purchased by the Government for their resettlement.
The locals claimed that they will not allow the families to be resettled on the land unless the local IDPs and squatters in the area are given land.
Earlier, Forestry and wild life Minister Dr.Noah Wekesa who addressed the IDPs accused his Special Programmes Counterpart Esther Murugi of not consulting him before deciding to move the IDPs to Trans Nzoia.