May 26, 2022 - Kisumu, Kenya - A group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nyanza region have petitioned the National Assembly to fast track their compensation following the losses incurred during the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
The IDPs, mainly victims from Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, and Homa Bay counties, have undergone untold suffering after being forcefully evicted from their land and business premises during the skirmishes.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security in Kisumu, the IDPs claimed they were yet to receive any compensation as promised by the government.
According to Maurice Opondo, a representative of the IDPs in the region, the government issued Sh7.9 billion to compensate IDPs in the country but only Sh3 billion was paid out.
“Unlike IDPs in Rift Valley and Central regions who at least got compensated, the IDPs in Nyanza, particularly Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira and Homa Bay are still waiting,” he said.
The IDPs have submitted the names of registered IDPs from the region to the committee, urging the legislators to fast track the matter.
Committee chair George Kaluma said the committee would submit its report to the National Assembly so that all deserving cases are compensated.
