NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 6 – The Government is planning to spend Sh1 billion for compensation of the people evicted from the Maasai Mau Forest.
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said on Thursday that the money would be used to resettle the people displaced in the ongoing Mau Forest restoration.
The Finance Minister added that an additional Sh823 million has been for planned for ex-gratia for IDPs of the post election violence
“As a Government, we stand ready to provide in the revised budget an additional Sh1.8 million,” said the Mr Kenyatta in a statement.
The Minister reiterated that the government was fully committed to continue to provide more resources until all IDPs are resettled.
“It is, therefore, clear that the Government, through the Ministry of Finance and other Government agencies, has done a lot for the Kenyan people who were displaced during the post-election violence,” said Mr Kenyatta.
Currently, the Ministry of Lands is in the process of buying 3,522.3 acres of land at a cost of Sh551,986,000.
The statement said once this is done, the land available for IDPs will total 7,577.6 acres, leaving a balance of 12,422.4 acres.
In the 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years, the Treasury allocated Sh1.4 billion and Sh1.5 billion respectively, a total of Sh2.9 billion, to the Ministry of Lands to buy land.
By the end of the current financial year, therefore, the Government will have spent close to Sh10 billion on IDPs.
“The Government has used its own tax resources, borrowed money and received grants in its effort to ensure that the IDP problem is dealt with,” said the DPM.
“As is evident, the Ministry of Finance has played a crucial role and remains committed to play its part now and in the future until the last IDP has been resettled and has a place to call home.”
According to government statistics as a result of the 2007-2008 violence, 78,254 homes were destroyed and 663,921 people displaced from their homes and they fled to other parts of the country.
Of the 663,921 people displaced in early 2008, 313,921 were integrated among various communities, while the remaining 350,000 sought refuge in 118 camps across the country.
Of the 350,000 IDPs who had sought refuge in 118 camps, a vast majority have been resettled or returned to their farms, leaving 6,802 households (approx. 30,000 people) not yet settled.
Currently, efforts are in top gear to seek land on which to settle them and for houses to be built for 2,593 families settled in Turkana District.
The DPM’s office said to resettle landless IDPs, 20,000 acres are required, which translates to three acres a household.
“Already, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, has bought 4,055.3 acres at a cost of Sh828,759,160 in Rongai, Molo, Kuresoi, Ol Kalou and Laikipia West and a total of 1,082 families so far settled.
A farm in Mau Narok has been bought, through the Ministry of Lands, and is being surveyed,” Mr Kenyatta said.
Currently, the Ministry of Lands is in the process of buying 3,522.3 acres of land at a cost of Sh551,986,000. Once this is done, the land available for IDPs will total 7,577.6 acres, leaving a balance of 12,422.4 acres.
In the 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years, the Treasury allocated Sh1.4 billion and Sh1.5 billion respectively, a total of Sh2.9 billion, to the Ministry of Lands to buy land.
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