Crisis as IDPs arrive in Kisumu

Published on February 5, 2008, 12:00 am

By Harold Ayodo and George Olwenya

Kisumu is facing a fresh humanitarian crisis after hundreds of displaced people arrived at the lakeside town shortly after midnight.

The 800 passengers, who were transported by a fleet of buses, were yesterday hosted at the St Stephen’s Cathedral Church compound in Milimani estate.

The victims said a similar number of people were on their way to the town.

Many were due to travel to far-flung districts in Nyanza while the rest were headed to Western and Rift Valley provinces.

"We left them boarding buses in Naivasha and hope that they will arrive safely because the roads are not safe. They are barricaded with boulders and bonfires," a victim, Ms Rose Atieno, said.

Hungry babies wailed as their mothers requested well-wishers to bring them milk.

Bishop Mwayi Abiero of the Anglican Church and the Migosi Ward councillor, Mr Paul Achayo, who received them, said sanitation was a problem.

"We only have two toilets in the church compound.Catering for this large number of people is going to be a problem," Abiero said.

Mwayi urged the country to be optimistic about the mediation talks.

The Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ferried tankers of water to assist the victims, who said they had not bathed for days.

Life for Children Ministry is among the non governmental organisations assisting the displaced. The coordinator, Mr Peter Raila, said they were giving food, blankets and clothing to the victims.