Implement TJRC report to prevent 2022 poll violence – IDPs

More than 190,000 IDPs have urged the state to resettle them and implement the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report to prevent 2022 post-election violence.

In 2015 President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Treasury to set aside Sh10 billion in a Restorative Justice Fund to implement the TJRC report and resettle all IDPs.

It hasn't happened though many were resettled earlier.

National IDP Network national coordinator Raphael Eyanai said on Tuesday in Eldoret that implementing the report would be a great achievement for the government and provide justice to many IDPs who have waited in vain.

They were displaced by the 2007-08 post-election violence. The land of many IDPs was taken over by people from other communities and reclaiming it or finding alternative land has been a problem.

Most of the IDPs yet to be resettled are integrated IDPs, but lack their own land.

Eyanai told reporters the TJRC report has provided clear guidelines on how to conclude resettlement of IDPs countrywide.

During his 2019 State of the Nation address, President Kenyatta said implementing the TJRC report would be used to resettle IDPs.

“We are reminding the government to undertake IDPs resettlement ... in reconciliation and forgiveness through the spirit of the Building Bridges Initiative ... ahead of the 2022 election,” Eyanai said.

He expressed fear that if hostility persists between supporters of the President and Deputy President William Ruto, then the chances of violence in the 2022 General Election will be very high.

To avert violence, the TJRC and Building Bridges report must be implemented to tame politicians who incite, Eyanai said.

“As IDPs, we request the state to address grievances of those aggressed upon by the 2007-08 PEV and by extension to a few households affected by the 2017-18 PEV," he said.

The coordinator called for additional funding to help IDPs. Eyanai also praised the government for spending more than Sh19 billion on IDPs' resettlement and related programmes since 2008.

The TJRC report released in 2011 indicated more than 350,000 Kenyans sought refugee in 118 camps across the country while 313,921 were integrated within communities countrywide.

An estimated 1,300 people were killed and more than 78,000 houses destroyed.

The government assisted about 300,000 people who had fled to camps to return home through operation Rudi Nyumbani.

(Edited by V. Graham)