Hudaa Foundation aids evicted Kipkaren residents

More than 100 families who were displaced last week in an eviction exercise in Kambi Nyasi, Kipkaren in Uasin Gishu County received humanitarian assistance courtesy of Hudaa Foundation, a non-governmental agency based in Eldoret.

The displaced residents received foodstuffs from the organization providing some relief to the residents, some who are now leaving in plastic shelters following the demolition of their homes by the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) which claims ownership of the land.

“We found it important to give a helping hand towards the displaced who at this time are leaving in dire circumstances following the demolition of their homes,” said Sheikh Abubakar Bini, the chairman of Hudaa Foundation.

Sheikh Abubakar who is also the chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK)-North Rift, criticized the demolition exercise saying that the residences who have been leaving in the area for more than 50 years were evicted without due process.

The eviction followed a ruling by the Lands and Environment Court which granted the contested 23-acre parcel of land to the church following years of dispute. The demolition operation left children, women, and the elderly exposed to the heavy rains, with no access to food, blankets, or medical care.

“I have lived here for 45 years and now I have now where to go. With the current heavy rains, where do I take our school-going children,” wondered Abdillahi Jillow.

Evicted residents stand in disbelief as they survey the ruins of their demolished homes.

His concerns were shared by Mary Juma who said the eviction process was carried out without a notice to the affected residents. “They broke doors and started throwing belongings outside. We have no where to go and the church is evicting us in an inhumane manner,” she said.

The residents said the church abdicated its spiritual and humanitarian role and chose to forceful evict them from the land they had called homes for more than 5 decades. “The Church is supposed to be the lifeline for the vulnerable in the society and not the oppressor,” said local human rights activist Kimutai Kirui who revealed that plans are underway to file an appeal in court.

The church through Christopher Ruto, the ACK Bishop of Eldoret however, said that the land was given to the church by the late former President Daniel Arap Moi as he maintained that the eviction was carried out legally following a court order.