State admits to presence of fraudsters in IDP camps

By Steve Mkawale and Anthony GitongaFor more than two years, hundreds of impostors have refused to return to their homes, instead choosing to subject themselves to the harsh life in makeshift IDPs camps in the Central Rift. Their aim: to force the Government to resettle them.The height of duplicity of fake IDPs came to the fore in August 2009 in Kuresoi constituency, when some of those the Government had resettled would wait until nightfall to steal iron sheet from their own roofs, vandalise doors and windows so that they could go back to the free living of the IDP camps.The drama was so absurd that some faked renewed attacks to create an allusion that it would never be safe for them to return home.Even today a big number of them want to live in IDP camps and draw sympathy from well-wishers.At the Pipeline camp in Nakuru, those left behind believe the Government owes them land, even though they did not have not having had any before the violence."Most of us never owned land back where we were evicted. We were trading at urban centres and when the violence erupted we fled living behind our household goods," said John Njoroge.Some of them have been trading in Nakuru town by the day and in the evening crawl back to the camp.Others leave the comfort of their rental houses in the town and surrounding areas for the camps when a donor or Government officials plan a visit.The situation is not different in Naivasha where thousands of displaced people sought refugee during the violence. Residents of Naivasha welcomed them with sympathy.They donated foodstuff and clothing to the victims and even offered the aged and minors accommodation.But two years later, more IDPs are still in camps in Naivasha town and it’s surrounding.Walk to NairobiEarly this month, a section of IDPs from Kikopey camp held a demonstration urging the Government to resettle them. But the group had not even started a trek to Nairobi to air their grievances before differences emerged on who were genuine IDPs. According to Gilgil DC Mr Shaffi Elmi, some of the fake IDPs have well paying jobs while others are traders in Gilgil and Naivasha towns."They only return to the camp when the issue of compensation comes up. But they should know that we are keenly watching them," he says. The DC warned the fake IDPs that their days are numbered and the long arm of the law will catch up with them.But Ms Beatrice Nyokabi from Ebenezer camp disagrees with the DC, saying there are no fake IDPs. She calls the allegations ‘a plot by the State to lock out some of the IDPs from getting resettled’."Many of us came from the same villagers before the violence and we know each other very well," she says.A senior Government official told The Standard that some of those who are most vocal, and have taken leadership positions at the camps, are the most notorious."Those calling themselves IDP leaders are responsible for the mess. They come up with exaggerated lists of IDPs with an intention of swindling the Government," said the administrator, who did not wish to be named.He said the bogus IDPs have been behind a series of protests, especially in Naivasha and Gilgil towns.

State admits to presence of fraudsters in IDP camps

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