By Karanja Njoroge and Stella Mwangi
A businessman has donated money to help some internally displaced persons (IDPs) buy land in Nakuru, even as the Government is grappling with their planned resettlement.
Mr Joseph Muya gave Sh400,000 to 206 families at Nawamu Camp to help them pay part of the money they need to acquire a piece of land.
The IDPs, who have settled on a 17-acre piece of land, had initially camped outside Nakuru DC’s office for several months to push Government to heed their plea for resettlement.
They owed the landowner Sh850,000 prior to the donation.
Muya said: "My friends and I decided to contribute to assist you clear the remaining balance for this land".
The businessman had earlier in the year donated another Sh400,000 to the IDPs to help them acquire half of the land at Mbaruk, a few kilometres from Nakuru town. He also donated food and sanitary towels to the families.
The IDPs, who have been having difficulties clearing the debt, broke into tears of joy following the generous gesture.
Disease outbreak
"Our dream of owning this land is almost a reality now despite all the suffering we have gone through," their chairman John Omari said.
But Muya challenged the IDPs to make use of available resources to construct decent houses and restart their lives, saying they must not wait for the Government or well-wishers to do everything for them.
Goal Ireland International, a charity organisation, gave each of the 205 families building posts and iron sheets.
Meanwhile, heavy rains that pounded Nakuru on Sunday wreaked havoc at New Canaan, where more than 1,250 IDP families are camping.
The rains, that poured for about two hours, left tents and property at the camp drenched in water and parents are now worried of possible disease outbreak.
"The cold has already affected our children and many are suffering from pneumonia, we fear a malaria outbreak due to the stagnant water around," Camp Secretary Joseph Kuria said.
