Fake IDPs will be prosecuted, warns official

People masquerading as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in order to benefit from a Sh1 billion resettlement plan will now face prosecution.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan said there was a group frustrating the Government's efforts to resettle IDPs. He warned those appending their names to a list of internally displaced persons from the 2007-2008 post-election violence against doing so.

Mr Hassan said the Government hasd asked security agents to investigate the activities and lifestyles of the impostors ahead of the funds release, reiterating that those who would be found guilty will face the law.

"There is a new list of people claiming to be IDPs that has been circulating with some of them presented to the deputy county commissioners of Wareng and Eldoret West. Investigations have been launched to unravel the source of the names," he said.

Speaking to the Press in Eldoret, Hassan said contradicting information was a threat to co-existence, and resettlement of IDPs was an emotive issue that should be handled fairly.

"A big section of IDPs in this county that were hard hit by the post-election violence eight years ago have been resettled. We currently have a genuine list of 68 people who were not sorted out and are set to benefit from the amount released recently. Those other lists are of fake IDPs and we will trace their sources to explain their motive," said Hassan.

The commissioner was concerned that some families issued with cheques were still staying in camps. He ordered chiefs to ensure closure of the camps since they were creating an impression that the Government had not been resettling IDPs.

In 2013, the Government continued with resettlement of IDPs and Naka Camp in Uasin Gishu County was the first to benefit when President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto presented cheques worth Sh96 million to 242 families.

Last year, Ruto gave Sh32 million to 167 families in Kamwingi camp in Uasin Gishu, an event that was followed by a protest from IDPs who faulted the resettlement.