Nakuru IDPs threaten to march to Nairobi to stop anti-IEBC protests

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camping at the New Canaan Camp in Pipeline, Nakuru have threatened to march to Nairobi on Friday should the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) fail to call off the anti-IEBC demonstrations.

The IDPs who held a peaceful protest at the camp on Monday evening said they would use that opportunity to express their displeasure in the manner the demonstrations are being held, saying that if not tamed they might lead to chaos similar to those witnessed in 2007-2008.

The IDPs said this would be very sad considering that they are yet to be resettled.

They further called on the CORD coalition to use the legally accepted means to push for changes in the IEBC.

The more than 400 IDP families are yet to be resettled in Subukia and Njoro due to court cases relating to the land that had been purchased by the government for their resettlement.

The two are Kisima Farm in Njoro and Ndonga Farm in Subukia.

Last month, victims of the 2007-08 post-election violence in Naivasha threatened to camp at the homes of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Principals to protest the ongoing demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

While condemning the violent protests, the victims noted that similar demonstrations in 2007 led to their predicament, with majority of them yet to heal fully.

Under the umbrella body of the Peace Ambassadors Network, the IDPs vowed to mobilize their colleagues and camp at the homes of Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula.

“As victims of the 2007-2008 violence, we will not watch silently as the fire that burnt us is lit again to burn other Kenyans,” said the group coordinator Esther Namulanda.

While calling on the CORD leadership to unconditionally call off their protests, the IDPs said that political violence breeds violence and violence breeds IDPs.

“If the CORD leadership does not stop these violent protests, we will also exercise our right to protest,” she said.