Gatundu IDPs protest, allege neglect by State

By Kamau Maichuhie

Kenya: A group of integrated Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gatundu are up in arms over what they term as neglect and discrimination by the government.

Waving placards and twigs, the IDPs staged a peaceful demonstration in Mang’u, Gatundu where they called upon the government to come to their rescue by ensuring they are properly compensated and resettled just like others who were in camps.

The IDPS claimed they settled in Mangu’u in 2008 having fled from different parts of the country.

Post-poll violence

“We came here in 2008 as a result of the post-election violence. We are people from different parts of the country. Some of us came from Molo, Solai, Subukia, Keringet, Burnt Forest, Kibera and Laikipia. The government knows of our existence but officers have been taking us round in circles for all this time,” said Dominic Mugumo the group’s chairman.

The IDPs claimed they have not received any food donations for the last four months as they are used to.

“Ever since Huruma IDP camp in Kieni Forest was closed down in early September, we have never received any food. The officers have been telling us our food was coming together with that of Huruma IDP camp but with its closing, our goose was cooked,” Mugumo said.

 “We have been appealing for food donations from the government with no success. Some government officers even went to the extent of telling us that Kiambu is not a poverty stricken area since its an agriculturally rich area with a lot of food. The truth of the matter is we are really suffering and going hungry,” said Richard Mwaniki.

The group is accusing some senior official in the now defunct ministry of Special Programmes of frustrating their compensation and resettlement bid.

Genuine IDPs

“We have gone there, (Nairobi) countless times but up to now we have not managed to make any headway. It reached a point where some of the senior officials in the ministry told us not to ever set foot in the office again saying we were not even genuine IDPs despite them having registered us,” one of the IDPs who demanded anonymity said.

“They have all our details including where we came from and where we are situated currently. We are just wondering which criteria is being used for the resettlement since we have been bypassed and our cry and plea has fallen on deaf ears,” said Serah Njeri.

The IDPS claim their children have dropped out of school since they cannot afford to pay school fees.

 “We cannot even receive education bursaries because we don’t come from this area which is one of the requirements,” Mwaniki noted.

The group is now appealing for aid so as to be fully compensated and resettled.

“We want integrated IDPs to be accorded the same treatment as others who were in camps. We have never received a penny or other items like mattresses and blankets that some of our colleagues were given. It would only fair if we are treated equally,” Njeri said.