Fake IDPs spell doom for Government's resettlement plan in Nyamira and Kisii

IDPs queue for payment at the Nyamira County headquarters. [photo by Stanley Ongwae, Standard]

Plans to compensate 14,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been thrown into disarray after new names emerged on the list.

This confusion comes a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta gave out more than Sh800,000 for the IDPs' belated resettlement.

Yesterday, it emerged that the exercise could take longer than expected because the officials will have to spend time weeding out fake IDPs.

Investigations by The Standard showed that genuine IDPs uprooted from their businesses and places of work in various parts of Central and Rift Valley regions during the 2007-2008 Post Election Violence were unhappy with some names allegedly sneaked in by some officials.

Some Jubilee officials now fear the confusion in the payout could affect Uhuru’s popularity in the area.

The Nyamira and Kisii payouts have also prompted IDPs in Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya to demand payment. They accused the Government of discriminating against them.

Yesterday, Nyamira County Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru reported that the exercise was stopped on Monday after some people claiming to be IDP co-ordinators presented separate lists of beneficiaries.

Since last Friday, thousands of people have turned up demanding to be paid.