Rival group barred from IDP matters

A lobby group that has been claiming legitimacy to lead displaced persons in Trans Nzoia has been stopped from interfering with activities of officials of an integrated internally displaced person’s (IDPs).
Kitale Resident Magistrate, Mary Osoro ordered that the activities of Mr. Raphael Eyanai (national secretary), Lucy Osere (Treasurer Trans Nzoia) and John Musungu (Chairman Trans Nzoia) as officials of the National IDPs Network should not be interfered with.
“I hereby order that Mr. Ayub Kaburu and Anne Odera are restrained from meddling, interfering or in any other manner dealing with the affairs of the above officials,” she ruled.
The orders come in the culmination of a legal battle pitying two rival factions which have been fighting for the control of the lobby group, whose mandate is to advocate for full compensation of its members by the government.
Speaking to the press in Kitale, Eyanai hailed the ruling adding that IDPS can now use legitimate office bearers to champion their interest.
“Our goal is not to flex muscles but instead agitate for the rights of integrated IDPS,” said Mr. Eyanai.
The two factions took their supremacy battle to court in 2017 after an election saw the Network’s Trans Nzoia county officials ousted bringing in new officials to spearhead the advocacy agenda.
He said that top on the agenda was to see all genuine IDPs given Sh200, 000 from the government as compensation.
“The government made a partial payment of Sh50, 000 to some 83, 891 members while the rest are yet to be captured. We have a membership of more than 181, 000 who also include forest evictees,” he said.
By Pauline Ikanda