Nakuru IDPs blame Ministry of Lands for delayed resettlement
IDPs Patron Mr. Peter Tena addressing journalists in Nakuru.
Victims of 2007/2008 post-election violence in Nakuru have pointed a finger at rogue individuals in the Ministry of Lands who they say have continued to derail the resettlement process.
The group drawn from all the sub counties of Nakuru and other counties congregated in Nakuru on Saturday October 28, 2023, calling on the government to expedite their resettlement process.
They lauded the statement issued by President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua that IDPs who are yet to be resettled should be resettled by December this year.
According to them, the long wait for their resettlement has resulted in a lot of pain with some losing their lives.
Pastor Harrison Mwangi- an IDP from Molo sub county adds that the move by government to address the plight of IDPs will go a long way in relieving them the pain that they have had to go through for the last 15 years.
He is however quick to point out that the process should not be politicized as it will lead to many genuine IDPs not benefiting.
"We want the process to be free from politics so that genuine IDPs can be resettled," he said.
Pastor Mwangi is also calling for reshuffle in the Ministry of Lands so as to wipe out what he terms 'Cartels'.
Sentiments echoed by Peter Tena-the Patron of IDPs Kenya who says resettlement of IDPs will help address their plight.
While delving into the recent demolitions in Mavoko, Tena pointed out the need for the reforms in the Lands docket.
He says the reforms as recommended in the Kriegler, Ndung’u and Akiumi reports should be implemented.
According to Tena, this is the only recipe towards locking out cartels and land grabbers and averting scenarios witnessed in Mavoko and other places.
He points out that presence of cartels in the Lands docket has led to numerous illegal activities such as double allocation where one parcel of land has two or more genuine title deeds.
For instance in Nakuru, Tena reveals that several cases have been launched at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on double allocation.
"We have cartels in the Lands docket who are sabotaging government efforts and they should be dealt with once and for all," says Tena.
Already the organization of IDPs has submitted records to the Ministry of Lands, with hopes that all shall be addressed as promised by government.