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Poll violence victims want State 'to treat all IDPs equally'

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Published on Thursday, 02 February 2012 11:46

Four years since chaos erupted after the 2007 General Election, the country is preparing for another election with IDPs still in camps.

And after International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its verdict, the Government appears to have ignored promises to resettle or compensate IDPs. It has concentrated its efforts on saving four suspects whose charges ICC confirmed.

IDPs living in Kisii protest, accusing the Government of neglect. State records show the area has 4,009 displaced persons. [PHOTO: KENAN MIRUKA/STANDARD]

While the Government, through the Ministry of Special Programmes, has made efforts to resettle IDPs especially those in camps in Rift Valley, those who were displaced and sought refuge in their ancenstral homes and relatives’ houses have been completely forgotten.

Among them are IDPs in Nyamira North District.

Most of them, before poll violence, had sold off their land in Kisii and moved to Molo, Kericho, Kitale, Nandi Hills and other parts of Rift Valley.

Forgotten lot

Official records indicate more than 50,000 people arrived in Nyamira from the areas and were accommodated at Ekerenyo camp, while others moved in with relatives.

While those who settled at the camp received the initial Sh10,000 payment from the Government as compensation and a further Sh35,000 for resettlement, those housed by relatives are a forgotten lot.

Seventy-eight-year-old Morumbwa Onsongo from Sengera in Gucha is a devastated man. He moved to Sachang’wan, Molo, in 1964 and settled on a two-acre piece of land where he farmed.

He lost property in 1992 clashes, but that could not equal the devastation he suffered in 2007 post-poll chaos.

"It has been four painful years. The mere thought of that event makes me cry. I lost everything including my two children. It was until recently when I got reunited with my three grandsons who got lost in the chaos. I saw pregnant women killed in the chaos," recalls Morumbwa.

The septuagenarian returned home only to find his land had been sold off and had to rely on the goodwill of villagers to survive. "It is still unbelievable that the neighbours with whom we shared a church turned against us with a lot of brutality," he says.

Morumbwa now begs along the streets of Ogembo town in Gucha to cater for his needs as he fights for loss of his land in court.

"I have never received a single coin from the Government in the last four years and it is painful to think elections are around the corner. I never want to go back to Molo even if I’m given a huge portion of land there," he says.

Official records show there are 4,009 profiled IDPs in the larger Kisii County. Despite endless protests and visits to Government offices, the IDPs have not received any form of compensation.

Provincial Administrators in the area blame delays by chiefs in profiling IDPs as the cause of delayed payment.

"Since our members were displaced in 2008, we only received four kilogrammes of maize and some farm inputs. Where is the Sh35,000 other IDPs received? We are staying in people’s homes and our lives remain shattered," says IDP chairman Robert Onsoti.

Recently, the IDPs held demonstrations demanding to be heard by the Government. They threatened to destroy camps.

Led by Rev William Onchoke, the IDPs asked the Government to pay them initial compensation of Sh10,000 as it did to their counterparts in other districts.

No response

"We have children in schools and we need food. Other IDPs were given farm inputs, building materials and household items, but we were left out. Why is the Government unfair?" posed Onchoke.

"We have written to the ministries of Finance and Special Programmes, but no response is forthcoming. Funds for resettlement are lying in banks as we languish," says Wilfred Isaboke, an IDP.

They want the Government to treat IDPs equally and resettle them as soon as possible.

"The Government should account for billions of shillings already disbursed for IDPs resettlement. We do not know who are the beneficiaries of Operation Rudi Nyumbani," says Elijah Sikona of Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance.

Sorted out

"Just because there were no tented camps in Kisii and Nyamira doesn’t imply IDPs do not exist. The Government paid out Sh35 million to IDPs in Kisii Central leaving out others in Gucha and Gucha South," argues Sikona.

He laments that existing IDP camps are in deplorable conditions due to adverse weather conditions.

"We have forwarded lists of profiled IDPs to the Ministry of Special Programmes, but nothing concrete has been communicated. The victims have repeatedly flocked our offices demanding compensation but we have done our part," says Gucha DC Mathias Rioba.

In 2010, Special Programmes ministry donated foodstuff to IDPs in the region and pledged to fast-track payment, but nothing has been done yet. Eastern Nyanza Regional Commissioner Lydia Muriuki acknowledges that some genuine IDPs could have been left out of the compensation process, but maintains the issue is being sorted out.

"Profiling was done earlier though there were delays and the lists were sent to the relevant ministry. Several IDPs have come forward claiming they were left out and their names are now being verified at the ministry before payment can be made," she says.

Ms Muriuki says the Government has adequate funds for resettlement, but this will be done after verification to ensure opportunists don’t benefit at the expense of genuine victims.

"The faster the verification process, the quicker the payment but it is now up to the Ministry of Special Programmes," said the commissioner.

Public Works Minister Chris Obure, Assistant ministers Manson Nyamweya and Simon Ogari all want the Government to deal with the matter conclusively to allow the IDPs to move on with their lives.