Speaker asks State to act on IDPs’ plight

By Peter Atsiaya

Speaker Kenneth Marende has asked the Government to address the plight of IDPs.

Mr Marende said it was sad that two years after peace was restored following post-election violence, thousands of IDPs still languish in camps.

"The issue of IDPs must be dealt with once and for all, " he said during the burial of Christopher Ambetsa Oparanya, the father of Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya, at Mabole Primary School in Butere at the weekend.

The Speaker said women and children are suffering in camps and urged the Government to intervene.

He leaders had diverted their attention from IDPs issue before their plight was adequately addressed.

"Why is it that we no longer hear politicians speak about the plight of IDPs like they did before?" asked Marende.

He said resettling IDPs was key to the healing process after the skirmishes that left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands homeless.

"The country can’t heal if some Kenyans are still suffering in makeshift camps without access to food and medical care," he added.

Marende said the Government’s plan to buy alternative land to settle IDPs is welcome but the move should not be delayed.

The Government launched the Operation Rudi Nyumbani in which IDPs were given money to resettle and start new life. But the initiative has been dogged by corruption.

Fifty-three Special Programmes Ministry officials are under investigation over misuse of more than Sh100 million meant for the programme.

Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia ordered investigation into alleged disappearance of more than Sh250 million meant for IDPs in Rift Valley Province.