Kenyan IDP Monica Mumbi: “There is nothing to go back to”

Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN

Monica Mumbi at the Navaisha IDP camp

NAIVASHA, 25 June 2008 (IRIN) – Monica Mumbi left her hometown of Molo, in Rift Valley Province, in February for the Naivasha internally displaced persons (IDP) camp after violence broke out in her town over the disputed elections. Mumbi spoke to IRIN about her experiences and why she is not looking forward to going back home as the resettlement of IDPs continues.

“We were attacked in our homes by the youths who were angry at the election results. We had to flee to the camp.

“We just left with our children, leaving everything else behind for the attackers. I cannot even go back to farm as our shambas [farms] now have new occupants.

“We have always had problems in the election years in 1992 and in 1997 when different ethnic groups fought each other but this time it was worse because we ended up in a camp.

“Even when we were there [in Molo] we could not live in peace. Our neighbours would graze their livestock on our crops saying we did not belong to the area. They called our farms a ‘free area’.

“My husband was also taken away by a woman from the main ethnic group in the area. When I told the chief he said he could not help. I was left to take care of my children all alone.

“We have been told to leave the camp in 14 days yet we have not been given anything. How will we restart our lives?

“Most of us have many children and we don’t know how we are going to take care of them.

“If I had a little money then maybe I could start a business to take care of my children and rent a house here in Naivasha town.

“There is nothing to go back to.”