Government to resettle all remaining IDPs by Monday

Deputy President William Ruto said the money would be wired to the accounts of the IDPS beginning Thursday afternoon. (Photo: DPPS)

The Government Thursday released Sh1 billion to conclude the resettlement of all the remaining Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.

This brings the total amount to Sh17.5 billion used to settle IDPs from 2008 to date. The IDPs were displaced by the post-election violence and forest evictions.

Addressing representatives of IDPs at his Karen residence, Deputy President William Ruto said the last batch of funds will be wired to the IDPS accounts beginning Thursday afternoon.

The Sh1 billion was given to 5,261 households, the last group who were still living in camps.

Mr Ruto said the Government did not expect to see any camp anywhere since all those who were affected had been paid.

He was accompanied by Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, Principal Secretary Josephta Mukobe, National Land Commission chairman Mohammed Swazuri, members of the task force appointed to coordinate resettlement of IDPs led by chairman Adan Wachu and representatives of those in the eight camps that were remaining.

Said Mr. Ruto: “From tomorrow (Friday), this money will be available in the IDPs’ bank accounts and we expect that by Monday no one will be remaining in the camps and they will all be closed.”

The Deputy President instructed the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning to find mechanisms for arbitration on four farms that have been purchased for resettlement programme.

“I am also asking the Attorney General to expedite the cases involving the 4,000 acre farms including hiring more lawyers,” he added.

Mr. Ruto disclosed that in the Government has provided cash or bought land for 28, 924 IDP households since the 2008, with 20,170 households being resettled in the last three years alone, spending Sh. 17.5 billion.

He asked County Commissioners in the Counties of Tranz Nzoia, Turkana, Isiolo and Nyandarua, where most the remaining IDP camps were to facilitate them to move out of the camps since they have been compensated.

Mr Kiunjuri said apart from the cash payment of Sh 200,000 per household, the Government was going to give foodstuffs to the IDPs to help in the resettlement programme.

“Thursday’s exercise concludes the Government’s effort to resettle all those who have been living in camps either on account of post-election violence or eviction from forests,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

Dr Swazuri expressed confidence that cases involving land purchased by Government for IDPs will soon be resolved and title deeds issued to the beneficiaries.

The national chairman of the Internally Displaced Persons Mr. Patrick Githinji said no any other person would come up claiming to be an IDP after the final resettlement programme.

He said: “I thank the Government for this generous gesture and give our assurance that the money given Thursday will be used in buying land or starting small businesses to sustain our lives.”

Mr Githinji said he and the task force appointed by the Government to resettle displaced persons was satisfied with the process.

Ms Fatuma Abdirahaman, chair of the IDPs from Isiolo similarly thanked the Government for the gesture saying all the 393 IDPs from the county will move from the camps starting Monday.

Similar sentiments were made by David Mwangi from Nyandarua, Davis Lagat from Kiptagich and Erinyit Eparon from Turkana.