Medical charity Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) on Friday accused Kenyan police of forcing families displaced in post-election violence to return home.
The group said its workers in western Kenya’s Endebess camp on Wednesday saw police move from tent to tent, threatening displaced families to make them leave despite fears that the safety of returnees cannot be guaranteed.
“While MSF is aware of the importance of the eventual return and the resettlement of those who were displaced during the post-election violence in Kenya, we firmly believe that it has to be voluntary and done in an organised way,” said Remi Carrier, MSF head of mission in Kenya.
“In Endebess this is clearly not the case.”
About 80% of the 9 000-strong camp returned home under threat or because they were promised government support to resettle.
“0f the 1 200 that remain, most are either too traumatised or terrified of what may happen to them when they return home or have no home to return to,” the statement added.
Violence broke out in Kenya following December 27 elections that pre-poll frontrunner Raila Odinga claimed were rigged by incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. Odinga eventually became prime minister after a power-sharing accord.
The crisis left at least 1 500 people dead and displaced about 300 000.
“I want to emphasise that the ongoing resettlement programme … is purely voluntary and the government will not coerce people to return to their homes,” Kibaki said on Monday.
Police rejected MSF’s accusations, saying they have instead boosted security on the ground.
“Nobody has been forced to return home. Police are in the camps to boost security and not to forcefully put them in trucks to go home. All these allegations are outright lies,” police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe said. — AFP