Kenya lands minister James Orengo. FILE
By VALENTINE OBARA, vobara@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, April 13 2011 at 20:09
Posted Wednesday, April 13 2011 at 20:09
The blame game surrounding the resettlement of the internally displaced continued Wednesday with Lands minister James Orengo blaming succession politics.
Mr Orengo said it was inhuman for some politicians to use the IDP issue for political gain.
He said the resettlement programme was driven and coordinated by an inter-ministerial committee comprising the ministries of Finance, Lands and Special Programmes. It is the committee and not the Lands minister that decides which land to buy and at what cost.”
He was reacting to comments made by politicians allied to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto that the Orange Democratic Movement was playing politics with the plight of IDPs.
The minister said that funds for resettlement were deposited in a settlement fund managed by three trustees and chaired by the Ministry of Finance.
He said approval for resettlement of IDPs had to be made by the minister for Finance.
Mr Orengo said that out of the Sh2.9 billion allocated for the resettlement, Sh1.4 billion had been used in acquiring farms for more than 6,000 families. Another Sh1.5 billion has been set aside to buy other farms.
He rejected calls by a section of MPs to use part of the funds allocated for the resettlement of IDPs in resettling the Mau forest evictees.
“The Sh1.5 billion balance is not even enough to resettle the IDPs and we wonder how they can ask us to use it in the resettlement of the evictees,” he said.
“The Sh1.5 billion balance is not even enough to resettle the IDPs and we wonder how they can ask us to use it in the resettlement of the evictees,” he said.
Respect institutions
Mr Orengo spoke at a press conference at his home in Ugenya constituency where he said politicians must learn to respect government institutions including the Prime Minister’s office.
Mr Orengo said Mr Odinga would be in the race for presidency in next year’s General Election.
“There are rumours and falsehoods spreading that the PM won’t be vying for presidency in 2012.”
Mr Orengo said Mr Odinga would be willing to support any other flag bearer from the party should it emerge that someone else is nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
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