Kenya: Government Settles Another 42 IDP Families in Ndaragwa

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Wanjohi Gakio

2 July 2011

The government resettled another 42 IDP families at Gwakung’u area in Nyandarua North district yesterday raising to 140 the number of IDP families resettled in the area within one week. The 42 comprised of 28 from Kikopey camp in Gilgil while the other 14 were drawn from Rironi camp in Kipipiri district.

The families were settled on a 100 acre piece of land which borders Gwakung’u IDP camp formed last year by 400 IDP families who came from Kirathimo in Kiambu county. Kenya

Contrary to expectations that IDPs at the camp would be irked by the government’s move to resettle their counterparts on a piece of land adjacent to them, the visitors were received with song and dance before they were served with food for lunch. The hosts then helped the settling IDPs erect their tents on the farm waiting for the government to fulfill its promise of building houses for them.

The Ministry of Special Programs Central Provincial Coordinator Fred Mutsami who oversaw the exercise said the government will soon put up houses for them. He said allowing the IDPs to form another camp will culminate into other problems. “We want to do away with these tents as soon as possible. They are portraying Kenya in a bad image to the outside world and at the same time killing hope for our people”, he said.

Mutsami urged the resettled post-election violence victims to integrate with other communities they have found in their areas of resettlement, work hard and prove to the world that they are ready to be self reliant.

He also urged other IDPs awaiting resettlement to be patient, saying acquisition of land is a rigorous process and proper vetting is done to ensure that the land bought will not engage beneficiaries in court battles in future. Other 98 familes were resettled early this week by the government at Rongai and Bahati areas in Nakuru county.

Gwakung’u IDP camp chairman Charles Kariuki who received them to the farm said residents of his camp were ready to live in harmony with anyone resettled at the place from any part of Kenya.

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