By PWI Reporter Kenya
Internally displaced persons received yet another hostile reception in Trans-nzoia County after the post election victims from the county and leaders blocked them from entering the 600 acres land purchased by government to settle them.
The displaced persons were first rejected in Narok and coast and yesterday they were also chased by residents in Trans-nzoia County.
The leaders, squatters and IDPs who received the planned resettlement of over 700 IDPs from other parts of the county to a private land in Trans-nzoia County stormed at Kwanza DC’s office before they turned back the IDPs who were transported in parastal buses and government trucks.
The IDPs were forced to turn their lorries and buses around and drove fast to the Trans-nzoia west DC and Kitale police station for protection.
The IDPs and leaders from the county later proceeded to the farm and took possession of the land believed to have been purchased by the government.
Security armed with riot gear were deployed to guard the farm about 30 kilometers from Kitale but were overwhelmed by hostile local landless people that had invaded the farm.
Forestry and wildlife minister Dr Noah Wekesa while in Keese secondary school told residents that he will not allow IDPs from other areas to be settled in the county at the expense local ones.
Dr Wekesa said the government should instead resettle IDPs from the county that were displaced in 1987, 1997, 2002 and 2007 who were languishing in IDPs camps.
“I will not allow IDPs from other counties to settle in Kwanza constituency because Trans-nzoia has more IDPs and squatters than any other place in the country." said Dr Wekesa.
Parliamentary aspirant Janepher Masis and nominated councilor Pius Kauka termed the move as incitement by the government saying Kwanza was volatile and wrestling IDPs from other counties could complicate the conflict in the area.
Councilor Kauka said IDPs from Teldet, Gatatha, Katwaka Nasianda GSU Salama GSU A/B, Cheptumbelio, Gitwamba and Kiminini were still languishing in camps.
The leaders complained that IDPs programme was implemented selectively and vowed to protest to the highest authorities including filing a case in court.
The squatters from Sabaot, Bukusu Turkana and Pokot who live adjacent to the controversial land have also invaded the farm.
Contacted for comment, north rift regional commissioner Wilson Wanyanga assured the IDPs from Nakuru that they will settle in the farm.
Mr Wanyanga warned leaders who were inciting residents to invade the farm that they risked being arrested. He said the government was working on the Trans-nzoia case and soon the victims of post election will be resettled along with landless people. He said he had called leaders from the area to be formally informed over government moves and asked them to be patient and keep the peace.
Tension is high at Kwanza district as a group of squatters continue to invade the purchased farm in Endebess division.
Internally displaced persons received yet another hostile reception in Trans-nzoia County after the post election victims from the county and leaders blocked them from entering the 600 acres land purchased by government to settle them.
The displaced persons were first rejected in Narok and coast and yesterday they were also chased by residents in Trans-nzoia County.
The leaders, squatters and IDPs who received the planned resettlement of over 700 IDPs from other parts of the county to a private land in Trans-nzoia County stormed at Kwanza DC’s office before they turned back the IDPs who were transported in parastal buses and government trucks.
The IDPs were forced to turn their lorries and buses around and drove fast to the Trans-nzoia west DC and Kitale police station for protection.
The IDPs and leaders from the county later proceeded to the farm and took possession of the land believed to have been purchased by the government.
Security armed with riot gear were deployed to guard the farm about 30 kilometers from Kitale but were overwhelmed by hostile local landless people that had invaded the farm.
Forestry and wildlife minister Dr Noah Wekesa while in Keese secondary school told residents that he will not allow IDPs from other areas to be settled in the county at the expense local ones.
Dr Wekesa said the government should instead resettle IDPs from the county that were displaced in 1987, 1997, 2002 and 2007 who were languishing in IDPs camps.
“I will not allow IDPs from other counties to settle in Kwanza constituency because Trans-nzoia has more IDPs and squatters than any other place in the country." said Dr Wekesa.
Parliamentary aspirant Janepher Masis and nominated councilor Pius Kauka termed the move as incitement by the government saying Kwanza was volatile and wrestling IDPs from other counties could complicate the conflict in the area.
Councilor Kauka said IDPs from Teldet, Gatatha, Katwaka Nasianda GSU Salama GSU A/B, Cheptumbelio, Gitwamba and Kiminini were still languishing in camps.
The leaders complained that IDPs programme was implemented selectively and vowed to protest to the highest authorities including filing a case in court.
The squatters from Sabaot, Bukusu Turkana and Pokot who live adjacent to the controversial land have also invaded the farm.
Contacted for comment, north rift regional commissioner Wilson Wanyanga assured the IDPs from Nakuru that they will settle in the farm.
Mr Wanyanga warned leaders who were inciting residents to invade the farm that they risked being arrested. He said the government was working on the Trans-nzoia case and soon the victims of post election will be resettled along with landless people. He said he had called leaders from the area to be formally informed over government moves and asked them to be patient and keep the peace.
Tension is high at Kwanza district as a group of squatters continue to invade the purchased farm in Endebess division.
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