Mr David Kitur, a politician eyeing the Ainamoi Parliamentary seat in the forthcoming by-election, confirms the resettlement of IDPs has succeeded in the region

Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no Source.standard.ke

Many leaders are now seeing the need for unity in order to settle the IDPs without any hitch, just as the Ainamoi constituency seat aspirant in the coming by-election Mr David Kitur (photo) has reiterated, saying,

 ”An Olive branch should be extended to all those arrested as one way of strengthening co-existence between the IDPs and their neighbours.”

And we agree with Mr Kitur on this. To have neighbours living in harmony, it is important to give dialogue and forgiveness a chance. Petty offenders involved in the post election violence should be given amnesty in order to speed up the reconcilliation process. API

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Promises for poll violence victims as they return home

Story by Steve Mkawale and Peter Mutai

Kalenjin elders in Rift Valley have vowed to ensure that displaced people return to their homes safely.

The elders, who met in Nakuru on Thursday, said they would ensure that the returnees were not threatened or intimidated by their former neighbours.

Addressing a news conference at a local hotel, former State House comptroller, Mr Abraham Kiptanui, said the elders would support the Government’s efforts to resettle the displaced.

“We are going back to our villages to tell our people that those who fled must be welcomed back and assisted to settle unconditionally,” said Kiptanui.

Africa Inland Church cleric Pastor Joseph Cherorot regretted that some people had tried to place conditions ahead of resettlement and told the displaced not to fear.

“Their children have a right to go to school and live in the environment they were used to,” he said.

The elders have organised reconciliation and healing process.

“We will launch a caravan on Saturday and visit all the trouble spots where families were uprooted,” said the pastor.

Former Cabinet minister, Mr Andrew Kiptoon, shared similar sentiments.

Meanwhile, Kipsigis leaders have petitioned President Kibaki to give amnesty to petty offenders arrested during post-election violence.

In a meeting held in Kericho, the leaders said the release was part of the reconciliation.

Mr David Kitur, a politician eyeing the Ainamoi Parliamentary seat in the forthcoming by-election, said the resettlement had gone on without a hitch.

“An Olive branch should be extended to all those arrested as one way of strengthening co-existence between the IDPs and their neighbours,” said Kitur.

Last month, Kipkelion MP, Mr Magerer Langat, appealed to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to accord amnesty to the suspects.

Meanwhile, 45,000 people who had been evicted from Rift Valley have been resettled.

Rift Valley PC, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, said the Government expected to settle more than 120,000 displaced people in their farms and close camps in the province in three weeks.

Speaking to The Standard on Thursday, the PC said the exercise was on course and hit out at NGOs operating in the region for frustrating Government efforts to move the displaced back to their farms.

Closing down camps

 

Hassan singled out three NGOs and some community-based organisations, which he did not name, accusing them of using the displaced.

He said many displacement camps were expected to close down in three weeks before the Government starts integrating displaced people with their relatives.

The administrator said camps in Londiani and Sorget in Kipkelion District, Molo town, Endebes, Chesogon, Kachibora, Kitale showground and Burnt Forest were expected to close down.

He said Londiani and Sorget camps would be closed down by the end of the week.

He said the Government on Thursday started on a programme to resettle displaced people in Burnt Forest and appealed to the affected not to agree to be misused by civil society groups.

The PC said displaced people in Nakuru and Eldoret showground camps would be relocated from next week.

Meanwhile, Kipkelion DC, Mr Aden Halake, on Thursday said 4,000 displaced people were yet to be resettled.

The DC was optimistic that the displaced would be resettled by the end of the week.

He said most victims were staying in rental premises, which were burned during post-election violence.

“We are giving them food rations for one month and tents,” Halake said.

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API