DPPS
The Government on Sunday started payments of Shs 4.2billion to the last batch of 83,890 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 43 counties, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
Mr Ruto said the money will be paid to IDPs identified by the Aden Wachu, the National Consultative Coordination Committee, under the category of integrated, as part of the healing and integration process.
Mr Ruto said the money for the first batch comprising of 44,577 IDPs from 17 counties including Homabay, Busia, Nakuru, Marsabit, Nairobi, Meru and Siaya among other areas amounting to Shs 2.3billion has been wired into their accounts.
The Deputy President spoke on Sunday when he handed over cheques to IDPs in in Ol Kalau and Naivasha in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties.
He was accompanied by Nakuru Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Lee Kinyanjui, MPs Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), David Gikaria (Nakuru town East) and Karanja Kihage (Naivasha).
The MPs hailed the Government’s move to assist all the families affected by the Post Election Violence (PEV) across the country.
Mr Kimani wondered why the Opposition leaders were criticizing the payments when they failed to resettle IDPs during the grand coalition government when they served in senior positions including Prime Minister.
“We are grateful that Jubilee has implemented its agenda of ensuring all those who were affected during the 2008 PEV across the country have been assisted,” said Mr Kihage.
“In fact, if you check the names of those who have benefitted from this programme in my constituency are Kenyans from all the ethnic communities and the names are there for all to see,” he added.
The Deputy President said the funds for next batch of 39,000 IDPs would be released in one and half to two month’s time, saying every household of the last batch of IDPs would be paid.
“We have already wired Shs 2.3billion to the accounts of the first batch of 44,577 IDPs from 17 counties and they will receive their cash of Shs 50,000 each by this week to enable them engage in income generating projects and join other Kenyans in the nation building,” said Mr. Ruto.
The Deputy President said the resettlement of IDPs was a key component of assuring Kenyans of a long-term stability by the Jubilee Administration.
He told the beneficiaries to use the funds to initiate income-generating projects that can uplift their lives.
Mr Ruto cautioned leaders against introducing baseless politics into the payment of IDPs, saying the Government has not discriminated against any group since the start of the resettlement exercise.
“We are making sure that all those affected by the 2008 post election violence are assisted. We started with Operation Rudi Nyumbani, those who were in tent and now we are dealing with those who left their homes to live with their relatives or friends,” said Mr Ruto.
“All the last batch of integrated IDPs will be paid the same amount of money in any part of the country,” added the Deputy President.
Mr Ruto urged leaders to be careful with what they say so as not to utter words that can divide or cause hatred among peace loving Kenyans.
The Deputy President took issue with Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s recent sentiments in Kajiado County urging the locals to reject communities who were not natives of the area.
Mr Ruto described the remarks as backward politics that could cause conflict among peace loving communities.
“As leaders we should talk in a language that can unite Kenyans and not cause hatred among them. This Kenya belong to all of us and no corner is preserve of certain people,” said the Deputy President.
The Deputy President assured Kenyans that the Government will ensure free, fair and credible elections and would respect the wishes of the voters.
“Leaders should be ready to respect the decision of voters. No one should be intimidated because of the way he or she has voted in any part of this country,” he said.
“As a country we should not work the slippery route of reckless politicking but we should instead embrace politics that can bring us together,” he added.
