The Government on Friday started relocating internal refugees from Burnt Forest camp in Uasin Gishu District to centres near their homes. The camp had more than 7,000 people from 1,527 households around the expansive Burnt Forest region.

The group set up camp at the local Rukuine Market where police officers have been posted to ensure round the clock security. Kenya Red Cross Society regional co-ordinator Patrick Nyongesa said about 2,000 refugees will be moved first and another 5,000 within the next one week. "There are some issues which the Government needs to address before the rest are moved," he said. Relief food The official said those moved had been given a month's supply of food and would continue getting relief food until the situation stabilises. Those who left the centre were uprooted from Rukuine Farm, about seven kilometres away.

They were ferried in Red Cross trucks unlike the first batch from Trans Nzoia which used army vehicles. Officials in charge said this was to avoid portraying force and intimidating the refugees. Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar who flagged off the exercise christened "Operation "Rudi Nyumbani" called for harmony and forgiveness. She said she had talked to councillors from her constituency and advised them to convene reconciliation meetings. The MP said there was no law that could compel them to love each other, only their willingness to do so. She added that there was likely to be a shortage of food because most of those returning would only be able to produce enough for their households.

Prof Kamar said the fertiliser and seed given to the refugees would not be enough. World Food Programme country emergency co-ordinator Simon Camelbeeck said more food worth Sh7.9 billion was expected in the country. The supply will cater for the arid and semi-arid areas and internal refugees. When the convoy arrived at the once robust Rukuine Shopping Centre which was torched during the post-election violence, the group held hands and prayed.

Pastor Joseph Kiare prayed that God softens the hearts of their neighbours to enable the two groups live in peace. Another refugee, Mr Duncan Waweru, welcomed the move saying that immorality had increased at the camp. Ms Mercia Wanjiku was happy that they had moved near home and would be able to start working on their farms without fear. More than 45,000 people uprooted from their homes have now been resettled according to Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Noor Hassan Noor. The Government expects to resettle more than 120,000 people and shut down the internal refugee camps within three weeks.

                                                                                                         Kennedy Lumwamu