1,400 IDPs sue state for Sh1.4 billion compensation

More than 1,400 Internally Displaced Persons have gone to the High Court in Nakuru seeking compensation of close to Sh1 million each from the government. The IDPs from Nyandarua South district, who claim to have been integrated after the 2007/08 post- election violence are claiming Sh1.4 billion from the government as funds for land,  support given to all other IDPs, pain,loss and suffering.  They have blamed the provincial administration for failing to forward their names to the Special Programmes ministry after they were profiled for compensation.

The IDPs' lawyer George Kimani told Justice Roselyne Wendoh to order the government to pay Sh40,000 to each and allocate them two acres of land each or the equivalent of Sh700,000. They are also seeking Sh250,000 compensation each as general damages for pain, loss and suffering. The IDPs want the government to compensate them for the loss of livestock, houses, crops, granaries, personal effects and other property during the violence. Kimani asked the court to expeditiously deal with the matter to alleviate the plight of the IDPs. Wendoh directed them to serve their suit papers to the AG, the permanent secretaries in Special programmes and Internal Security ministries before a mention date on July 6.