By KEN-ARTHUR WEKESA
The resettlement of post-poll violence victims continues to be a thorn in the coalition regimeâs flesh.
The plight of some of the Kenyans who fled their homes following the chaos that erupted after the 2007 General Election, has put Governmentâs commitment to resettle Internally Displaced Persons ahead of the coming polls on the spot.
The pressure on the Government to conclude the resettlement of the IDPs comes hot on the heels of reports that the resettlement exercise was supposed to have been concluded by March 19.
IDPs in a camp. Although there are a number of IDPs still langushing in camps, the Government says relocation the displaced from their homes following 2007/8 post-poll violence is on course. [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD]
The Government has since dismissed the claim maintaining the deadline only referred to the expiry of the taskforce mandated to fast track the resettlement of both post-poll violence victims and Mau evictees who were residing in Government gazetted forests.
Even as the Government comes under fire over lackadaisical handling of IDP status, the
Ministry of Special Programmes has perpetually affirmed her assurance to fully ensure that all victims of forcible transfer are unconditionally compensated before the next election.
Speaking to The Standard On Saturday, Special Programmes Permanent Secretary Andrew Mondoh said that through the "Operation Rudi Nyumbani," initiative the Government managed to persuade 350,000 individuals to return to their farms with incentive for security, Sh10,000 to each affected family and a further Sh25,000 to 78, 254 households whose property, including houses, was destroyed.
Burning midnight oil
"To allege that the Government is not concerned about the IDPs is simplistic. Out of 9,571 affected households, we managed to resettle 4763 households by last year. We have been burning the midnight oil to this effect and to date, 7,518 households have been resettled across all the 8 provinces," said Mondoh.
Official documents from Special Programmes Ministry availed to The Standard On Saturday revealed that out of Sh4 billion meant for the programme, 3.3 billion has since gone to financing various projects that include ex-gratia support to the victims and reconstruction of social amenities including 138 schools destroyed at a whooping cost of 242 million. 16 schools were constructed in in Uasin Gishu and Molo respectively at a cost of 119 million, according to the report.
