The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has faulted the government for resettling victims displaced by the Mai Mahiu tragedy in leased camps instead of a long-term place.
Voiced concerns about the proposed relocation of households affected by the Mai Mahiu dam accident.
This occurred after the government dismantled the final two camps that had been housing the families and offered them three months' rent despite some of the victims' objections.
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According to Cornelius Odour, the commission's Deputy Executive Director, the exercise was uncertain, and there were concerns that the government would fail to satisfy its duties.
He stated that a month after the tragedy, some of the victims were forced to return to their damaged homes, while others were placed in rented housing.
Speaking in Mai Mahiu, Odour stated that there were claims that the administration altered the list of victims, leaving legitimate families off.
He stated that the commission has filed a lawsuit demanding compensation for the families affected by the catastrophe, which happened when a water formation ruptured in the Old Kijabe region.
One of the victims, Eunice Wanjiru, whose home was damaged, said that their family had been excluded from the list of beneficiaries despite losing all of their personal belongings.
Naftali Gikonyo echoed this, saying there was uncertainty over their resettlement after all the camps were closed and the families were taken to rental houses.
This was confirmed by Naftali Gikonyo, who stated that once the camps were closed and people were moved into rented homes, there remained ambiguity about their relocation.
"The government said that it had set aside Ksh.300m for our resettlement and no one is talking about that and we are wondering what will happen next," Gikonyo states.
Mary Muthoni, who lost eight family members, claimed she returned home from the hospital to discover that her family had been relocated to a rental property in Mai Mahiu Town.
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