Turkana IDPs get brick houses, yet to receive Sh400,000 compensation

By TITUS TOO

Turkana County: Several Internally Displaced Persons who fled back to Turkana County after the 2007/2008 post-election violence have a reason to smile, thanks to a brick house project funded by the government.

It has been many years of hardship for the families that have been living in plastic tents in the semi-arid region with scorching temperatures.

Majority of those affected had moved to other parts of the country in search of greener pastures through business and other forms of income generation only to be relocated due to the post-poll skirmishes.

The permanent housing units at Lokichar and other IDP camps across the county are nearing completion and will be unique compared to those in others regions.

The new buildings in Lokichar have transformed the face of the county, where manyatta structures are a common sight.

This comes as Turkana County gains widespread attention over the on-going oil exploration and the discovery of underground water reserves that promise to contribute to the county’s dire water needs.

It has been a beehive of activity, with investors seeking existing opportunities in the region.

William Tukei, one of the displaced victims, says most of those affected returned to Turkana due to tension resulting from post-election related violence.

“I worked in the tea plantations of Nandi Hills before returning to Turkana. Others were displaced from parts of Eldoret, Naivasha, Flax and Cherangany,” Tukei says.

He adds that due to the confusion resulting from the violence, the families returned to Turkana and lived in tented camps.

Tukei, the local co-ordinator for the IDPs, says the brick walled and iron sheet-roofed structures have been put up in Lokichar, Kalimngorok, Kainuk Lokori and Katilu areas.

However, he says construction work in one of the camps had stalled after only six units were erected.