Local/National News – 20.05.2010 - TURKANA IDPs TO BE ASSISTED. BY OKOTH PETER and PETER LOKATUR.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) who came to Turkana from other parts of the country during the post election violence will get assistance from the Government in order to put up shelter on the land allocated to them by Lodwar Municipal Council.

This was said today in Lodwar, Turkana Central, by the Special Programmes Minister, Naomi Shaban, when she paid them a visit. She had earlier visited the residents of Soweto village in Lodwar town who were displaced floods. The Minister said that the Government was aware of the plight of the IDPs in the Larger Turkana and promised to supply them with building materials. She also said that the Government would release the Kshs. 25, 000/= to them during the next financial year.

She further said that the IDPs would be supplied with food separate from the normal relief supplies that is given to the needy.

Earlier the Minister had toured the residents of Soweto who had been displaced by floods and assured them that they will get assistance from the government. She said that apart from food, the victims of floods will be supplied with soap, blankets and mosquito nets. She assured them that the Government through the Ministry of Water will ensure that River Kawalase which had burst its banks displacing hundreds of Soweto and California villages follows its correct course.

The Minister was accompanied by Turkana Central MP, Ekwee Ethuro, Senior Deputy Secretary in her Ministry, Ibrahim Maalim, deputy coordinator, Crisis Response Centre, Ole Kina.

Turkana Regional Commissioner, Christopher Musumbu and Turkana Central District Commissioner, Nakitare Okuku among other district leaders accompanied the Minister during her brief tour.

Meanwhile, Turkana Central MP, Ekwee Ethuro, has called on the to repair the Kitale-Lodwar Highway, which has been damaged the heavy rains. Addressing the press today, Mr. Ekwee said that for many years he has been asking the Government to do something about the road, but so far nothing has been done.

He also asked the Government to repair all the damaged bridges along the highway for ease movement of vehicles. He said further that the Government should seize this opportunity to have the course of River Kawalathe corrected once and for all so that no more floods occurs.