Shaban accuses MPs of drawing fake lists of IDPs

A Cabinet Minister accused politicians and MPs with ulterior motives of generating fake lists of displaced people for compensation.

Special Programmes Minister Naomi Shaban stood her ground amid protests from MPs that lists emerging two years since post-election violence were fake.

She accused the MPs of cooking the lists, which had names of their campaigners, as IDPs.

"I maintain that the lists emerging now are fake. The names flouted around are those of the MPs’ campaigners in the last elections," said Dr Shaban.

The minister wondered where the lists were emanating from yet the registration of the victims ended last December.

"Where is the list coming from almost a year since we closed the exercise? We asked all DCs to take details of the victims between June and December last year. It is strange that bogus lists are being cooked with the support of some Government officials," said the minister.

Shaban found herself in trouble from MPs who wanted her to substantiate her claims. She declined to withdraw her statement, saying a list presented on Thursday was one of those that were raising suspicion.

She said despite the list having been signed by a DC, it lacked a signature of the ministry’s regional IDP co-ordinator as required.

The MPs were reacting to a list of 35,000 people tabled by Gatundu North MP Clement Waibara. Mr Waibara took the House by surprise as he sought permission to table the list of the victims even after the minister denied there were IDPs in his constituency.

Making his maiden speech since he was elected in 2007, Waibara said it was disturbing that the minister was denying the existence of IDPs in his constituency yet the Government has been feeding the same for years.

He told the House the IDPs had received Government aid for the last 17 years. However, the minister said the feeding arrangement offered to a section of disadvantaged Kenyans did not qualify them to be IDPs.

MPs Ephraim Maina, Gitobu Imanyara, Bonny Khalwale, Simon Mbugua, Nkoidila ole Lankas, Baiya Njoroge and Jeremiah Kioni protested that the minister was giving dismissive answers to a serious concern to the House.

Mr Lankas wanted the minister compelled to name leaders she claimed were frustrating Government efforts to resettle IDPs.

Mr Kioni accused Shaban of improper motives by accusing MPs of cooking lists of non-existent IDPs, while Baiya said the minister was wrong to dismiss the list even before verifying it.

But the minister said the area DC must explain why he failed to prepare the list and hand it to the relevant authorities as required. Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo came to the minister’s defence , saying she should be given time to verify the lists.

House Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim directed the minister to verify the list and come back to the House with a proper answer.

 

 

Read all about: Naomi Shaban Fraud

 

 

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