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{
    "id": 79798,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/79798/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 455,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kioni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 49,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni",
        "slug": "jeremiah-kioni"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I rise to second this Motion. As I do so, I want to thank hon. Ekwe Ethuro, for bringing to Parliament this Motion, which is timely. You will recall that it was only yesterday that we had a Question raised on the Floor and, for the first time, after a couple of years and the answer that was given by the Minister was very comprehensive. The Motion talks about many other aspects which need to be looked into – aspects relating to IDPs which can easily be forgotten. The answer talked about IDPs in transit, IDPs who have constituted themselves into self-help groups, Kenyan refugees who are actually people who were displaced from their places of habitation after the elections we had in 2007. We have IDPs in far-flung places like Turkana. As the Mover has mentioned, we also have those people who are evictees from forests in various parts of this country. We have integrated IDPs, who are living within our own homesteads, and they are quite a number. We also have squatters, who also require attention as the issue is dealt with. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, what is also important to note from the answer we were given yesterday is the fact that the Government has constructed 797 houses for IDPs, whereas we are looking at a total of more than 7,328 IDPs, who are still in need of help. It is important that we pay attention to these facts. Every time a Motion of this nature is moved, the issue of those proposed to sit in the Committee crops up. It is not possible for all of us to sit in this Committee. Amendments are possible, but the crucial issue is what it is that the Committee will do. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we need to know that the issue of IDPs in this country started way back in 1992, and it has continued to exist. Even before then, we had people who were evicted from forests in various parts of this country. It is, therefore, important that this issue is not left to die with time. The IDPs plight continues to be forgotten, and this is something we need to take up as Members of Parliament. Every single hour that passes, which takes us nearer to the elections of 2012, IDP issues continue to take a back seat. It was just last month when my constituency received over 2,000 IDPs. When they got there, I really had to work hard to find out where they were coming from, and who had been taking care of them. It is like they were forgotten and they found their way into my constituency. I need the support of this House and other agencies like every other Member of Parliament who has IDPs in his or her constituency. The issues we are raising about the IDPs should be addressed. These Kenyans voted for leaders in 2007 and when they were doing so, they were looking for representation. They need to feel that they are still being represented. They need to feel that their concerns, as Kenyans, have not been forgotten. They need to feel that they are not another type of people. Sometimes they have referred to themselves as people from Uganda and other countries. It is important that this House shows commitment, concern and takes a decisive action such as the formation of this Committee to look into the issues of these people. This will ensure that their concerns are always heard and that there is always a forum that will talk comprehensively on their issues. If you visit any of the IDP camps, especially the ones that have moved from their original areas, you will realise the difficulties that families go through. An example is those IDPs who moved into my constituency. They have a problem accessing education. There are those who are in primary school. There are those who are expected to sit for their Standard Eight examination. However, none of them is able to access education as it were. This means that the lives of these young people are affected for life. It is not a one-off thing. Their lives are affected forever more. It is important that proper recommendations are made on the Floor of this House so that we can discuss them and take a position that will be respected by Parliaments after the Tenth Parliament. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we all know, and this morning, we had a heated debated on the recruitment into the army. One of the criterion for one to be recruited as a member of the armed forces is that one needs to be a member of the district within the recruitment centre. The IDPs who have moved out of their areas to other districts have IDs that show the districts where they came from. Automatically, those young people have no opportunity of ever joining the Army. This is because their IDs disqualify them from attending recruitment within that recruitment centre. These are issues that will be brushed aside. These are issues that we can talk about casually but it is important that the House takes a position and is cognizant of these issues. That way, we will have a document that can be referred to. The document will be used by subsequent Parliaments and Ministries."
}