State directed to respond to compensation case for 7,000 IDPs

A section of Internally Displaced Persons led by Nelson Oriama former Olkaria ward councilor on October 7, 2021, addressing the press where they to be paid. [Caleb Kingwara,Standard]

The State is yet to respond to a case filed at Milimani law courts by 7,000 internally displaced persons from Nyamira and Kisii counties over unpaid compensation.

When the matter came for hearing yesterday, Justice Hedwig Ong’udi directed the State to file a response before November 24, 2021.

The case was being heard by Justice Weldon Korir who has since been transferred.

The matter has been pending in courts for over 13 years. The IDPs sued the State in 2017.

The aggrieved IDPs led by the Rev Nemwel Momanyi claim Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and PS Karanja Kibicho have refused to compensate them.

Momanyi said he has been moving from one court to another to represent his people in push for compensation.

The case will be heard on October 24, 2021.

The IDPs have also attempted to present their petition to the Senate and National Assembly in vain.

On June 6, 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta released Sh358 million for compensation of IDPs in Kisii County.

The president later handed over another Sh472 million to displaced people in Nyamira.

Uhuru said the beneficiaries were the last batch of people displaced by the violence.