Raila, Uhuru sued in IDP row

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta have been taken to court over the government’s failure to resettle people displaced by post-election violence.

Naivasha MP John Mututho filed the suit at the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Other government officials sued in the case are Lands minister James Orengo, Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi, and the Attorney-General.

Two political parties, Orange Democratic Party (ODM), Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission are also respondents in the suit.

The Naivasha MP has accused the respondents of discriminating against the IDPs through their actions contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.

Subsequently, Constitutional and Human Rights Division judge Mumbi Ngugi agreed that the case was urgent and should be heard next week.

He directed lawyer George Kithi for the MP, to serve the parties so that they can all appear in court on Friday next week.

Mr Kithi told the court that the issue of IDPs had affected his client’s Naivasha constituency because most internally displaced people from the Rift Valley live there.

The MP, he added, resettled the IDPs through his own efforts but they were still living in deplorable conditions because the government had neglected them.

He is asking the court to issue several orders against the respondents including one compelling the government to provide adequate food, shelter, clean water housing and other basic amenities.

He wants the Provincial Administration restrained from interfering with his efforts to resettle IDPs.

The MP further seeks orders stopping the electoral agency from conducting the delimitation of constituencies and wards and revision of voter register ahead of the General Election.

Mr Mututho wants the court to stop the electoral agency from announcing the election date until the case is heard and determined.