Forgotten IDPs demand to be heard

By Wambui Ndung’u

Integrated Internally Displaced Persons from Nyeri County and other parts of central province have come together in one voice and vowed not to leave the Nyeri DC’s office until their grievances are addressed.

The post election violence victims claimed that they wanted the government to resettle them as they had been ignored unlike their counterparts in camps.

Before arriving at the DC’s office, the IDPs demonstrated along Nyeri streets demanding action from the government.

They were not satisfied when Nyeri DC Chege Mwangi told them that he would present the issues to his seniors for consultation and vowed to remain at the District Offices.

The victims claimed that their grievances were not being heard by the government and that they were living in straining conditions.

"We are tired of renting houses and borrowing food from well wishers. The government ought to come clear on our fate," said James Waweru Maina, an IDP who lives in Ndaragwa.

Speaking on their behalf, Waweru said the PEV victims who had been living with relatives and those who were staying in rented houses had been forgotten.

He said that his family of eight children depended on donations for food and called on the government to give him a place to settle them.
Waweru said he was hardly able to pay Sh700 rent for his house in Endarasha. Waweru said that the situation was so bad that some of his children
had resulted to prostitution so as to be able to fend for themselves.

Carrying placards and twigs they chanted solidarity songs and asked for their rights to be heard. They said that many of them were unable to pay their rent with some having six months’ arrears on payment.

The chairman of the group Charles Mwangi said that the situation was straining and some people had resulted to suicide and others
prostitution.

"We are between 35,000-40,000 integrated IDPs in the province," said Mwangi.

Cecilia Waruguru who said she was evicted from Mau Narok claims that some of them live with relatives who are tired of housing them.