Displaced persons to be resettled before polls

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has reiterated the Government’s commitment to resettle Internally Displaced persons, including Mau evictees, before next year’s General Election.

The PM said some of the IDPs will be resettled in Nakuru County on a piece of land he inspected on Sunday morning within Rongai Constituency.

Accompanied by area MP Micah Kigen, Raila said everyone who was landless as a result of evictions will be considered.

He called for thorough vetting of the beneficiaries to weed out impostors.
“As a government we are committed to ensuring that our promise to the victims is fulfilled,” said the PM.

“Contrary to assertions by my critics that I’m not bothered about the plight of the evictees I am human and there is no way I can rejoice while fellow Kenyans are languishing in poverty and living in deplorable shanties,” he said.

He directed Lands minister James Orengo, who accompanied him, to strictly ensure fairness in resettling the victims in the identified area.

TITLE DEEDS
The PM spoke in Rongai where he issued title deeds to squatters. He also ordered Mr Orengo and other State machinery to investigate and take action against politicians and civil servants who had benefitted unfairly from allocations in Banita Settlement Scheme.

“I have heard your cries that senior civil servants and politicians allocated themselves part of the scheme meant for you. I am directing the Lands minister to carry out thorough investigation and report to me as soon as possible,” directed the PM.

Orengo said his office had received similar complaints and investigation was underway to expose the culprits.

“It is true some influential personalities used fake names to get land meant for squatters,” said the minister.