MPs want IDPs resettled before elections

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING

Last year, the government handed to the Lands and Special Programmes ministries Sh2.7 billion for IDP-related activities. Photo/FILE 

By ERIC WAINAINA rc.wainaina@gmail.com
Posted  Sunday, September 11  2011 at  11:32

Share This Story

62Share 

Three legislators have asked the government to resettle all internally displaced persons (IDP) still in camps before the next General Elections.

RELATED STORIES

• Group wants victims of election chaos paid

Speaking separately, David Njuguna (Lari MP), Peter Mwathi (Limuru MP) and William Kabogo (Juja MP) said it will be a shame for the coalition government if Kenyans held elections while IDPs remain unsettled.

Mr Njuguna said women and children are suffering in camps with the heavy rains, which have destroyed tents.

“Women and children are being rained on because their tents are worn out. They have poor latrines and this puts them at risk of waterborne diseases,” Mr Njuguna said.

Speaking in Limuru town at a fundraising activity to aid Boda boda operators start a Sacco, Mr Mwathi said President Kibaki has only one year remaining before his term ends and it’s important if he ensures that all post poll chaos victims have been resettled.

“If there is a legacy President Kibaki would want to leave, it’s that of his determination to resettle all IDPs and we beseech him to remember them before we go for elections,” Mr Mwathi said.

Differences have been witnessed between the ministries of Lands, Finance and Special Programs with each accusing the other of hindering the resettlement process, whereas local inhabitants have also resisted resettlement plans of IDPs from various camps. (Read: Plan to settle IDPs in Eldoret opposed)

The lawmakers pleaded with electorates to exercise their rights to vote wisely as this will stop the recurrence of ethnic violence witnesses in the 2007 post election violence where 1,300 people we killed and over 300,000 people were displaced.

“Elections will come and go but the most important thing is to have peace so that we can have prosperity in our country,” Mr Kabogo said.