[Camps for IDPs in Lamu. The terror victims now want compensation from the government (Photo/The Star]
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Lamu County are demanding compensation before they can move back to their homes.
According to Baraka FM, the residents have maintained that they will not resettle in their homes until the government pays them for the losses they have suffered since the operation Linda Boni kicked off.
Over 2500 IDPs have asked the government to heed to their demands before they can resettle on their pieces of land to continue with normal life.
The IDPs, who comprise of residents of Jima, Poromoko, Pandanguo, Maleli , Kakathe, and Nyongoro areas, have been decrying negligence since they moved from their homes following incessant attacks from the suspected Al Shabaab militia.
They also lamented that the security officers did not protect their homes despite having assured them of the same before the left to pave way for the operation. They have also said that they do not know where to begin once they opt to go back to their homes.
“We left everything behind thinking out homes will be protected. But contrary to that, our crops were destroyed by wildlife animals, our homes were robbed and basically, there is nothing to go back home to. Then the government just tells us to back and then what? What do we eat, how do we survive? It’s impossible. They must pay us for all that first,” said Simon Mgumba, one of the residents, as quoted by the local daily.
On Tuesday, Lamu county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo had announced that the IDPs were free to move back to their homes, but not compulsory.
Kitiyo said that maintaining them has not been easy, adding that supplies will stop soon. He also lauded security officers for being committed to dealing with the terror suspects, adding that the government is not in a position to compensate them.