Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from 16 counties are calling on President William Ruto to act swiftly and implement the long-delayed IDP Act to address their plight, 18 years after the 2007/2008 Post-Election Violence (PEV). Led by their chairman, Patrick Githinji, the IDPs lamented that only a small fraction of the over 580,000 families displaced during the deadly violence had been resettled.
Speaking at the home of former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, Githinji condemned leaders who continue to politicize the PEV tragedy, using it to incite fear while ignoring the suffering of affected families. He noted that the violence led to the death of over 1,000 people, destruction of property worth millions, and mass displacement, yet the victims have largely been forgotten.
Githinji revealed that despite the government under former President Mwai Kibaki purchasing nearly 200 parcels of land for IDP resettlement, many displaced families remain in rented homes, still waiting for permanent solutions. He further claimed that financial compensation meant for the IDPs, amounting to more than Ksh 2 billion, remains inaccessible after the accounts were frozen during the previous regime.
“The suffering of IDPs has gone on for far too long. It is time for the government to honor its promise and provide lasting solutions,” Githinji said. “We are not just numbers—behind every statistic is a family that has lost everything.”
The IDP leaders urged Ngunjiri, a long-time advocate for IDP rights, to present their case to President Ruto. “Ngunjiri has stood with us through the years. We believe he can deliver our message to the President,” said Githinji.
He also cautioned MPs against attempts to water down the IDP Act, emphasizing that displacement is not limited to post-election violence but also arises from natural disasters such as floods and landslides.
Githinji stressed the importance of upholding the IDP Act to protect all future victims of displacement, calling it a crucial national framework that should be respected and fully implemented.
