Internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing at the Kianjogu Jericho IDP Camp in Salama Ward, Laikipia County, received an early Christmas surprise from a Nairobi church.
Led by Pastor Jane Wanjiru Kiarie of Emmanuel Glory Ministries in Kayole, Nairobi, the clergy donated foodstuffs, clothing, and sanitary goods.
The church has called for the allocation of land to the IDPs, who have been living in deplorable conditions for nearly 20 years in this ward, located in Laikipia West constituency.
More than 1,500 families, victims of the 2007/2008 post-election violence, have been residing on a section of a farm purchased for them by the Mwai Kibaki administration.
Pastor Jane expressed disappointment that successive governments have failed to allocate plots to these families on the vast land.
“Since they became IDPs, we have had several governments and it is unfortunate that none has acted to improve the lives of these people,” she said when she delivered early the Christmas donations to them.
The internally displaced persons expressed their gratitude to the church team for the donated food, clothing, and sanitary goods.
The camp coordinator and IDP National Chief Whip, James Mwaura, appealed to the government to survey the land for allocation, noting that some outsiders have begun claiming ownership of parts of the farm.
He stated that allocating land to these families would enable them to secure and develop their farms, thus improving their living standards.
“At times elephants invade this area posing great risk to the people since they live in polythene-walled structures in an unenclosed environment. Hyenas are also a common feature here making it very hard for these people to keep livestock,” the Coordinator said.
Officially, the camp accommodates 3,600 residents, the majority of whom are children, women, and the elderly. They live in an environment that lacks clean water and sanitation facilities.
