By KEN-ARTHUR WEKESA

The resettlement of post-poll violence victims continues to be a thorn in the coalition regime’s flesh.

The plight of some of the Kenyans who fled their homes following the chaos that erupted after the 2007 General Election, has put Government’s 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.

Out of the targeted 19,000 houses, the documents further indicated that 16,145 have been erected to date and the remaining 2,855 units are at various stages of construction. More than 30,953 houses have consequently been constructed in Kipkelion and Trans Nzoia by the beneficiaries of Sh25,000 from Government.

The PS further noted that the tenure of the taskforce mandated with the IDP resettlement has since been extended in a bid to settle the remaining batch of 2053 households.

Protect water towers

"Besides the post-election violence victims, we endeavour to resettle too the 5710 households who were evicted in the interest of protecting the sanctity of our water towers," added Mondoh.

Whereas most of the IDPs have received the ex-gratia support from Government amounting to 1.6 billion, others have never benefited from operation.

"Whereas I got the Sh10,000 and additional Sh25,000, I am aware of about half dozen IDPs who were not compensated by the Government," says RoseWanjiku, who was displaced from Kericho during the 2007 civil strife.

Rose belongs to a group called Jikaze comprising of 145 households that pooled their resources and bought 17 acres of land in Mai Mahiu.

She maintains that there is need for the Government to fast track the process so as to lead a decent human life bereft of the IDP tag.

"We are like lesser human beings, second class Kenyans who have perpetually been subjected to pathetic conditions. The Government supplies us with meagre food and the challenge is now to a permanent place as there are no farms to be sold to us’ she lamented.

Christine Ndinda, who was displaced from Narok, echoes Wanjiku’s sentiments, noting that the Government should stop giving excuses for not resettling them.

"We are alive to the fact that it is a regime that cares less for us, they ration food for us and seem not to care about our well-being. We have people who are terminally ill among us who need care," lamented Christine.

Hiked prices

"The last we want to hear is that they are unwilling to give us the Sh450,000. If the Government cannot buy land for us, they shouldn’t hesitate to sort us individually," she charged.

The fact that some landowners have hiked prices for their land has also been a major hindrance to speedy conclusion of exercise. Some IDPs have also resisted being resettled in remote areas especially those who were displaced from urban and peri-urban areas.

Molo MP Joseph Kiuna says the Government should stop withholding funds meant for IDPs.

"Like the biblical pilate, let the Kibaki establishment should was her hands and release the Sh450,000 to individual IDPs so they can vacate their temporary homes and go settle where they deem fit even if its Migingo. After all, every Kenyan has a right to settle anywhere," Kiuna said. The legislator also lashed out at rogue politicians and corrupt officials whom he said are frustrating the exercise.

"Some selfish politicians have been inciting residents against welcoming the resettlement initiative, evoking hostility while some officials have been submitting to the Government a counterfeit list of IDPs in the process benefiting their kith and kin," he said.