CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR PEACE MEETING – Friday 18th April 2008

CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR PEACE MEETING – Friday 18^th April 2008

1. IDP’s

• There are 250 camps still existing countrywide. Little concrete solution for them and we don’t want them to become a forgotten species. Need symbolic gesture to remind govt and public about this situation – a group from CCP to spend night in the camps. Through this, they can strengthen the call for political leaders to go visit, as most still haven’t.

• Suggestion to go to a smaller camp and spend the night there in solidarity with occupants and to draw media to the issue and collect a view of different opinions of those staying there. There is a small camp at the Good News Church in Molo that would be appropriate, and other suggestions welcomed. Who’s interested?

• Lights needed for camps- women can’t go out at night because it is unsafe. Kids can’t do homework. Cheap effective lighting needed, particularly in the ‘unrecognised camps’ eg in Nairobi only 6 camps officially recognised and therefore supported by Govt and Red Cross. However there are 6 camps in Mathare alone and conditions in the unofficial camps are very bad – limited shelter, food water, sanitation.

• Elderly and resettlement brings up separate issues. Most are terrified about going back. It might be necessary to create a home for the aged to cater for those who are 65 years and above.

• Need to push Annan to make statement re: IDP’s and to find out exactly what Govts plans are for them. Check with Dept in Office of the President (Mr Maina), with UN, and Red Cross. Also with Minister for Special Projects. PC’s and DC’s. There is information about location of all camps, official and unofficial and it needs to be collated. Study needs to be done on who has gone back, how, and whether it is effective. Some, particularly in rural areas will really struggle to return owing to changed conditions and decisions need to be made about what to do there.

• Amani Welfare Association – Working on a system of re-integration. Giving small stipends – 6000/- for rent and business set up. Has raised Shs 1 mill through private funds. Civil society needs to assist further as it clear from cases all over the world that governments never manage to resettle all IDP’s.

• A tally of property that has been taken over needs to be made. Eg farms in Molo occupied, houses in Eldoret and all over etc. In Mathare IDP’s are living in tents 100 metres away from their homes which have been squatted. Plans to torch the homes with squatters inside on Sunday 13^th were stopped by intervention through Kenya Veterans for Peace who work with CCP. But second cycle of violence could arise from this explosive situation, particularly in urban areas. It is the seed of the next explosion in Nairobi unless it is dealt with. No leader has yet spoken about this and statement needs to be made about securing IDP property before revenge cycle begins. Coalition Govt must make joint statement about vacating property that doesn’t belong to you. Media too needs to begin examining this issue. Specifically can the Concerned Kenyan Writers help here? Jacob Kaloki – Kenya Veterans for Peace on 0720 878 798 can provide information on how they prevented houses in Mathare being torched a week ago and what the situation on the ground is on the issue of appropriated property. Anyone?

• People need to register their loss of property with the DC and the chiefs. A comprehensive record needs to be created so work can begin on sorting this out and returning items to their rightful owners

2. Misc other items