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First Lady to visit clash-hit district
THE STANDARD
14. April 2007
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A member of the Law Society of Kenya distributes food to displaced residents of Kopsiro in Mt Elgon District. About 140 people have been killed and hundreds of families rendered homeless since the land clashes started four months ago.
Picture by Peter Ochieng |
First Lady Lucy Kibaki will on Monday visit the troubled Mt Elgon District, where independent reports say more than 140 people have been killed.
A statement by the Presidential Press Services last evening said the First Lady would distribute food to displaced families.
She is expected at Kopsiro divisional headquarters, accompanied by the Western Provincial Commissioner, Mr Abdul Mwasserah, shortly after 9am.
Preparations for her visit were on Sunday in top-gear, with Mt Elgon DC, Mr Kutswa Olaka, and local OCPD, Mr David Makokha, co-ordinating the arrangements.
The visit comes after persistent calls on the President and Internal Security minister Mr John Michuki to tour the district.
Following the escalation of the violence, Cabinet ministers have also kept off the district.
A planned visit by Lands minister, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, on Friday was cancelled at the last minute for unexplained reasons.
The minister was expected to meet with committee members concerning the controversial Chebyuk Settlement Scheme allocations, local MP, Mr John Serut, and some former MPs.
Earlier, the Anglican Church of Kenya bishops Stephen Kewasis and Thomas Kogo expressed shock at Government apathy.
"It is shocking that people are dying everyday, but the minister seems not to be concerned. We appeal to the President to visit the area," said Kewasis.
Kopsiro, the venue of the intended visit by the First Lady, is where suspected members of the Sabaot Land Defence Force killed a pastor last week.
On Saturday, helicopters delivered food for distribution even as heavy rains pounded the area rendering roads impassable.
On Sunday, workers from the Ministry of Works graded the road leading to Kopsiro where a dais was to be put up.
The visit coincides with a three-day amnesty to raiders in the troubled district to surrender their weapons.
A security operation mounted by the Government to flush out members of the Sabaot Land Defence Force, believed to be behind the clashes, has seen 290
arrests.
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