Tired of waiting for relief food, Nyandarua IDPs turn to farming

By JAMES MUNYEKI

Living in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp has its fair share of problems. One of these problems is hunger. Many IDPs have to rely on inadequate food donations, which leaves them in constant state of want and puts their children in danger of malnutrition.

This is, however, not the case anymore for a section of IDPs in Nyandarua North District who have started an initiative geared towards mitigating hunger in their camp.

A woman struggling to feeding a young baby with maize and beans in an IDP camp. [PICTURE: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

The IDPs say if someone can help them develop a savings co-operative credit society so they can access credit facilities then they might just shed off the pathetic lives they have known in the camps.

Need support

They say the support they received from the Government and other well wishers cannot sustain them. David Gitau, 79, a resident of camp, says he needs money to boost his agriculture.

"I have seven grandchildren who live with me and our economic activity is farming, so if I could get some cash, this would increase," Gitau said.

He observed that agriculture could make IDPs independent. Gitau says he has visited several IDP camps to come up with a solution to their plight.

"We shall do what we can. People who have been resettled should engage in activities to improve their livelihoods," he says.