State officials sabotage order to shut camps

By Standard Team

Senior Government officials could be behind the resistance by some displaced families to leave camps.

Some IDPs at the Eldoret Show Ground camp claimed politicians had told them to stay put.

"We have sought their opinion on whether to leave now and they feel we should wait until the Government makes land available," an IDP, who declined to be named, told The Standard.

Only the sceptical ones heeded the call by Wareng DC Alex ole Nkoyo to leave the camps after receiving the Sh35,000 compensation package.

Paid and left

By yesterday, slightly less than 100 displaced persons had been paid and left, but some remained.

"We paid more than 70 on the first day, but the numbers are increasing steadily as compliance improves," said the DC.

He had asked those who wished to benefit from the funds to first pull down their tents. Nkoyo, however, remained upbeat the exercise would end successfully in a week.

Last week, President Kibaki ordered all camps closed in two weeks.

The showground was until Tuesday hosting slightly more than 2,000 people living in tattered tents.

Meanwhile, displaced families in Naivasha have accused the Government of double standards in the ongoing resettlement programme.

The IDPs alleged foul play, saying they should be treated equally.

Arid area

Their chairperson Beatrice Nyokabi accused the Government of abandoning them in an arid area.

"We are told IDPs in Eldoret will get land. We want the same to happen to us since we are suffering," she said. Nyokabi said rains, hunger and diseases were a threat to their lives at the camps.

"Our children have dropped from schools due to lack of fees and given good land, we can work hard and stop relying on donor food," she added.

The IDPs were speaking when students from Naivasha Girls Secondary School donated food to them.

During the emotional tour, some students broke into tears as they witnessed suffering at the camps.

Principal Eunice Wangari said they donated food after they learnt of the IDPs’ plight through the media.

In Nyandarua, IDPs are afraid they might be left out in the ongoing resettlement.

The said Government officials were yet to contact them following Kibaki’s directive.

Mr Peter Kariuki, chairman of Mawingu camp which hosts 14,000 victims, said they are yet to get any directive.

He said displaced families were now in a dilemma. Kariuki said they were yet to know whether they would get the two-acre land promised by the Government.

He said other camps have also not been given any directive. They include Kasuku, Milangine, and Lake Ol Bollosat camps.

By Dedan Okanga, Antony Gitonga and James Munyeki