June 6, 2008

The process of resettling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) dubbed as “Operation Rudi Nyumbani” may not be an easy one after all. This week the process was encumbered by two major hurdles which could effectively slow down the whole exercise. The operation, launched in May meant that the displaced persons were returning to their legitimate homes and that they were not going to be strangers there.

Besides isolated cases reported in the media where in certain areas the returnees have met with cold reception despite their inherent right to reside in those areas, information contained in a Government policy document this week to the effect that there could be trouble should donors fail to release funds pledged to facilitate resettlement, is disturbing to say the least.

The policy document details that failure to honour this pledge could result in failure by the Grand Coalition Government to undertake the National Reconciliation Programme negotiated under the Kofi Annan accord. The danger that this move portends is that failing to undertake the national reconciliation programme could see a return to a state of anarchy, lawlessness and violence.

This issue coming at a time and month when the resettlement programme is supposed to be ending is sad news. Initially, the programme was intended to end on June 30 having commenced on March 31. The Government so far has managed to raise Kshs 1.2 billion leaving it with the daunting task of raising a whooping Sh 30 billion.

This cause for alarm is contained in a report of the committee developed during the harmonisation of the manifestos of PNU, ODM and ODM-Kenya. An economist, Mr George Ojema, describes this as the panacea for a lasting coalition government.

The Government is already using the available Sh1.2 billion for the resettlement of people who had been living in camps, reconstruction of infrastructure and jump-starting the healing process. However, a good number of displaced persons refuse to return home citing lack of compensation. Some of whom have vowed not to decamp unless they are sufficiently compensated for the lose they incurred during the post election violence sparked off by the disputed December presidential poll.

According to the harmonisation committee report, transportation and resettlement of the displaced was supposed to take up Sh2, 275 million while the purchase of food and household goods for an estimated 70,000 people required Sh3.5 million.

Those who had been displaced from their homes were expected to benefit from three-bedroomed houses, each with basic facilities, at a total cost of Sh7, 000 million.

The second issue is that of ascertaining the accurate figure of the displaced persons. This week media reports indicated that that the figure of 350,000 quoted in the Press was only but an estimate.

Reports said that the Director of Mitigation and Settlement, Mr Wilfred Ndolo, revealed on Thursday that the Government was keen on ascertaining the number of people who were displaced, adding that the 350,000 figure was not accurate.

Mr. Ndolo spoke in Molo at the launch of fresh registration exercise for displaced persons. The data, he said, would be used to assist those whose homes and businesses were destroyed. The revelation that there was no data to this effect is shocking as this achieves only in increasing fears that the exercise may delay the resettlement programme.

These issues combine to scuttle what was otherwise a noble idea. It is this exercise of resettling the IDPs and their reintegration in the society that is critical towards reconstruction and reconciliation and on this one, the Government needs to up its game to save the displaced from endless agony.