Barnabas Bii And Sammy Cheboi
24 April 2008
Nairobi — President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga begin their peace tour of Rift Valley Province Thursday amid opposition from some of the region's MPs over the return of internal refugees to their homes.
The three-day tour is meant to prepare the ground for the resettlement of the refugees living in deplorable conditions in camps at showgrounds, police stations and schools after they ran for their lives in the wake of the post-election violence that claimed the lives of over 1,200 Kenyas in January and February.
And Wednesday, Parliament adjourned to debate the state of the internally displaced ahead of the visit by the two leaders. MPs adjourned at 4.30pm and took two hours to debate the matter they said was of national importance.
Those who contributed to the motion moved by Mr David Ngugi (Kinangop, Sisi Kwa Sisi) empathised with the 350,000 refugees and asked the Government to do all in its power to return the displaced families to their farms.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga, who were the main contenders in the December polls, are likely to encounter discontent and high expectations in equal measure.
On Tuesday, after Rift Valley MPs met the two leaders, a dispute erupted over the time within which the uprooted people should be resettled. MPs from North and Central Rift asked for more time to prepare residents to accept the displaced families. But some MPs allied to PNU said the resettlement should start immediately and without any preconditions.
Unwillingness
Residents interviewed Wednesday expressed unwillingness to accept their former neighbours back until the root cause of the post-election violence and previous politically-instigated chaos are resolved. It is widely believed that grievances over land distribution were the cause of the post-election violence in Rift Valley.
While seconding the motion on the refugees in Parliament last evening, Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti, PNU) described the December and January violence as the worst political crisis in the country's history.
The violence was sparked by the disputed presidential election results in which President Kibaki was declared winner, a verdict that ODM contested. Over 350,000 people were left homeless in the chaos that followed.
Said the Saboti MP: "I have travelled to various camps across the country and it is not enough just to sympathise. We must now take action and include restitution in the entire process."
Agriculture minister William Ruto, said leaders from Rift Valley were not opposed to resettlement of the displaced families.
However, he said that the community wants its members who were arrested over poll-related violence either charged in court or released if there was no evidence against them.
"The difference that has emerged is not on principle (of resettlement) but on the approach," Mr Ruto said. He said the differences had been exaggerated.
Speaking after launching the Freedom from Hunger Walk, Mr Ruto said it was agreed that President Kibaki and Mr Odinga lead the area leaders in visiting the camps in Rift Valley to reassure the people of the Government's commitment to their plight.
But the leaders also want those displaced in Mt Elgon to be considered for resettlement. "For six months, thousands of people in Mt Elgon have been living as refugees in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Trans Nzoia and the leaders feel that they should also be resettled," he said.
Earlier this week, residents held a meeting at Kiambaa on the outskirts of Eldoret Town and petitioned the Government to get alternative land for the displaced people instead of rushing the resettlement process.
The North Rift was hit hard by the violence with more than 300 people killed and over 150,000 displaced.
In Parliament Wednesday, Justice minister Martha Karua, said the Government would not compromise with the perpetrators of the post election violence.
On claims by Rift Valley MPs that they were not ready to support the resettlement programmes unless those arrested over the violence were released unconditionally, the minister said it was unacceptable because even in Central Kenya, suspected Mungiki members were also being rounded up and interrogated and charged.
"We must respect the rule of law and allow due process to go on. But I agree with members that the process should be speeded up," she said.
Foreign minister Moses Wetangula, described the problem of the internal refugees as "an eyesore" that had dented the image of the country.
Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta placed the problem of displaced people at the feet of politicians who he accused of stirring up ethnic mistrust.
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i really dont see anyother way for those who has lost their home,than to go back to their homes,i cant understand the idea of runing away from my home, because iwas born in this tribe or that tribe, i dont know if some of those MP want to divide kenya in to an ethinic ground where you will only live next to your peoples or if they wish kenya to continue as it always been, with everybody living where he likes, but me i will choose the second, cause i dont see any peace if every tribe will have to… [Read Full Text]