The post-election violence of 2007/8 in Kenya affected hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
The violence resulted into rape of women, defilement of children and other sexual abuses, forcible displacement of people, killings, torching of people , properties, forced circumcision and other bodily physical harm.
This violence also caused trauma and psychologically tormented thousands of families.
At the tail end of the violence, IDP camps were set up in several parts of Rift Valley, Kisumu, Kisii, Eldoret, Naivasha, Nakuru and other places.
What shocks me and continues to shock me is the fact that some of these internally displaced victims of the violence were subsequently treated partially and unfairly by the government officials in departments under the Office of the President.
In the last regime under I the leadership of Mwai Kibaki,the victims who were perceived to be coming from regions that were in supportive of the party of National Unity (PNU) were accorded fair treatment through compensation, resettlement including construction of new houses, and as well as purchase of land.
The current regime under the leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto seems to be following the footsteps of the previous regime.
In October 10, 2015, The Government announced that Sh1.1 billion will be used to resettle all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and compensate all of them in five counties before the El Nino rains as part of its healing and integration process.
The Deputy President William Ruto who presided over the handing over of cheques to IDPs in Mahi Mahiu, Gilgil, Njoro and Rongai in Nakuru County said that each IDP will pocket ksh.400, 000.
The second in command later preside over the same function in his home turf in Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Ruto told the beneficiaries to use the funds to buy land since the camps would soon be closed down by the government. This is good but what about compensating intergrated IDPs?
Now the El Nino rains are here with us, what happens to the IDPS in Nyanza, Western, Coast regions?
Are they being sidelined simply because in 2013 elections they did not support this regime?
Nakuru County where the DP Ruto said that his alliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta was aimed at ensuring Kenyans remained peaceful and united whether in Government or in the Opposition. Now what is happening is different.
Nyanza PEV victims have made several appeals to the government for assistance but all in vain.
The only support they count was a minimum of ksh.10,000 and a maximum of ksh.25,000 they got from the government just after the signing of the National Accord and Reconciliation ACT under the supervision of former UN Secretary Dr. Koffi Anaan which ended the political stalemate and turmoil in Kenya.
I must also thank NGOs who provided food and non-food items to the IDPs, Medical assistance and counseling assistance because of the trauma.
None of them is getting official support from the government or any other government agency currently.
Are they not Kenyans?
There are no reliable sources of livelihood for them, no medical support, and no support to settle as their counterparts in other ‘government friendly areas’.
A number of them are not able to provide for them, or to educate their children, some have died from hardships, ailments, stress and vagaries of harsh weather.
The elderly ones are especially living under considerable stress. Many have no income since they are unable to do manual work that is available.
Others have reportedly petitioned the government on several occasions while others have even sued the government for compensation on grounds that the government failed to prevent, properly investigate or prosecute those responsible for post-election violence, and failed to provide emergency medical services to victims of sexual and gender based violence that occurred during the 2007/8 PEV as the case is in the legal suit before the Kisii Law courts which has even taken a longer time to be determined-this is impunity meted by the government to its own people.
This injustice has to be condemned by human rights defenders.
There must be equal and just treatment of all IDPs irrespective of their perceived political stand, irrespective of tribe or region.
Mr. President you must step in and address this matter to ensure a smooth healing process.
Let us rise up and help our brothers out from the yolk of suffering and discrimination from the government.
