IDP's paid

Minister of State in charge of Special Programs Dr Naomi Shaban has said that the continued resistance by over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camping at the Eldoret showground is among the issues to be addressed before the onset of the El Nino rains.

Dr Shaban who was speaking in Mombasa said resettlement efforts have taken off smoothly, and those willing to move have already been given money to enable them find new homes. Eldoret Showground is the largest camp hosting IDPs.

The minister said so far, the government has allocated shs 1.7 million towards the program.

There was a two week deadline for the government to resettle all IDPs still living in camps before the onset short rains which are expected to be more than normal.

Another factor derailing the program is the fact that the Ministry of Lands is yet to finalize the logistics of purchasing land to resettle IDPs, even though the government has already invited expression of interest for land.

"The team from the Ministry of Lands is already in the field scouting for the best deal for the government for this program," she said.

Dr Shabani said the government, in conjunction with donors has managed to construct about 20,000 houses for IDPs in various parts of the country.

She commended IDP's who pooled their resources and purchased land to settle, and said the government will continue to assist them as they strive to join the rest of Kenyans in national building initiatives.

The minister also announced that IDPs who have been living with relatives in Nyanza and Central provinces will also benefit from the same program so that they can rebuild their lives afresh.

Also to be resettled under the same program are IDPs living as refugees in Uganda. Some of them were handed over to to Kenyan authorities by UNHCR and have already received some money but there are still others living there.

She said the remaining refugees in Uganda must come home on their own volition saying the government has no intention of force them to return.

Dr Shaban urged who receive the resettlement money to use the funds well so that they can rebuild their lives so as to improve their lives.

Commenting on the proposed privatization of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Dr Shaban called for more dialogue in the matter so that the coastal people are not short-changed.

The privatization of the facility has elicited strong reactions from the workers' body who have rejected any move to privatize, and have organized a demonstration next week Tuesday to press the government to shelve the move.