State forms team to help resettle colonial villages squatters

The national government has set up a committee to handle resettlement of squatters living in colonial villages.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said the committee had been tasked to look into how the squatters together with integrated internally displaced persons who were evicted from forests, would be resettled.

The villages, the CS noted, were scattered in Murang'a, Nyeri and Kiambu districts and came up during the State of emergency; where over one million Kenyans were forced to live by the colonial master.

"We want to do things in an organised way to ensure we address all the issues at hand. The problem cannot be wished away and that is why the Government has decided to set up the committee," said Kiunjuri.

Speaking at Nyamachaki Primary School in Nyeri yesterday, Kiunjuri said the committee will in addition look into the issue of people who were evicted from government forests and Nyayo tea zone.

The CS added the State was keen on closing all the IDP camps in the country starting next week.

"In the coming week, the Government does not want see anyone in camps. We want to see all the IDPs going on with their day to day activities at the comfort of their homes," Kiunjuri said. He said initially, the resettlement was hampered by numerous land cases filed in court.