Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen at a past church service/KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN/ X
In a significant address to the Senate, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said the displacement in Marsabit County has left 528 families affected, 135 homes either vandalised or burned down, and 267 people in need of resettlement land.
He was responding to concerns raised by Senator Mohamed Chute regarding the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Marsabit town.
Murkomen noted that the displacement of individuals in the northern part of the country is mostly due to ethnic and socio-political violence between 2017 and 2022.
“On record, we have 528 households whose houses were vandalized and 135 houses burned,” he said.
Some of the worst-hit sub-counties include Jirime, Milima Tatu, Mata Arba, Qilta, Dirib/Dokato, Jaldesa and Badasa.
The CS also addressed a question regarding plans and timelines for resettling the IDPs and measures put in place to ensure their safety and well-being during and after resettlement.
“Honourable Speaker, the government has been distributing relief food to the affected households,” he said.
On the terms of compensating the IDPs and when they will be paid, Murkomen said most of the persons have returned to their original Manyattas.
These include Manyatta Daaba, Sales Wako, Konso Banchale, Isackon Umuro and Gabra Scheme.
To ensure safety and security, the CS said police posts have been established in the area.
“Saku CDF has put up a police post at Manyatta Daaba awaiting deployment of security officers,” he added.
Additionally, Murkomen said the National Police Reservists have been deployed across the hot spots, peace dialogues have been conducted across the county and peace structures /committees are operational.
Murkomen added that there is enhanced intelligence gathering and frequent public barazas are conducted in the area to ensure the law is upheld.
He stated that the issue of compensation remains a concern, as the government has not yet allocated funds for direct compensation of the displaced persons.
However, he said, the County Resettlement Committee is actively engaging the IDPs to ensure their voluntary return to their manyattas.
While compensation funds are not yet available, the government has promised to continue providing essential support, including food and non-food items, to those returning home.
“The government commits to ensuring that upon return of the displaced persons, adequate provision is made to provide them with food and non-food items,” Murkomen said.
