Raila boost as Mau families settled

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s fortunes in the Rift Valley got a boost following the resettlement of Mau evictees at the weekend.

Some 400 families who have been living in tattered tents at Kapkembu for the last three years have found a new home at Majani Mingi in Rongai constituency.

The PM has been blamed for the plight of the families who were evicted from the forest, with his rivals accusing him of being insensitive to the needs of the poor.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto, who is running for the presidency on a United Republican Party ticket, gave the Mau issue as one of the reasons for his defection from the PM’s Orange Democratic Movement.
Regain his foothold

In what could be seen as a bid by the PM to regain his foothold among the Kalenjin, his close allies, led by Lands minister James Orengo and Roads minister Franklin Bett, were on hand to receive evictees.

Others were East Africa Community minister Musa Sirma, Energy assistant minister Magerer Langat and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo.

Mr Orengo regretted that the Mau issue had been politicised by their rivals, whom he said were not interested in finding solutions to problems facing Kenyans.

“We should stop talking too much and find solutions to problems facing Kenyans,” he said.

The Ugenya MP announced that all internally displaced persons would be resettled before the end of the year. He said the resettlement of Mau evictees would be completed next week.

“We want to resettle all these people as soon as possible. This is the beginning of the end of the Mau politics,” said Mr Midiwo.

Mr Bett said it was unfortunate that the government took long to resettle the forest evictees, adding that the delay subjected them to suffering and anguish.

The government has acquired 3,200 acres at Majani Mingi, where it also plans to resettle 329 families from the Alko IDP camp in Rongai.

Some 51 landless families who were displaced by floods in 2010, and 149 squatters from the community will also be resettled on the farm.

“I don’t want this matter to be politicised because these people have suffered a lot. Let’s not introduce politics in the welfare of Kenyans,” said Mr Bett.

Mr Langat said their rivals were opposed to the resettlement for political reasons. “They wanted you to continue staying in those camps so that they can continue playing politics with the matter,” he said.

“We only raised our voice after we saw that this issue had slowed down but some people thought we wanted to leave. This is not about party politics, time for that will come,” he said.

“We will not be threatened or intimidated by anyone. Those thinking that we must join their party to survive must know that Kenya is a multiparty state.”

The resettlement is expected to continue this week, with another batch of 149 families to be moved to a farm in Kericho County.