Families in Murang’a who were displaced by heavy floods early this year have received the first resettlement funds. Officials said that 173 families received Sh35,000 each to start constructing their new houses. The sum is the first installment of Sh62,720 for each family in the resettlement programme. It is financed by the government in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross.
Kenya Red Cross central coordinator Gitonga Mugambi said only those whose land was approved for resettlement have received the money. The beneficiaries were also verified to ensure they are genuine victims of a natural disaster. Gitonga said the funds will help them begin construction as they await iron sheets and cement (sand, ballast and timber), and pay for labour.
Gitonga asked deputy county commissioners to ensure the houses are constructed according to standards. Each family will construct a three-room iron sheet house with a cement floor. They will be required to finance construction of other facilities such as toilets themselves.
The resettlement programme commenced after the conclusion of a geological survey by the government to establish how many families were affected by rains and how many parcels of the affected land are still habitable.
More than 600 families were affected by the rains that caused many landslides across the county but only 446 families require resettlment. Some displaced families were integrated with other families while others are still living in schools.
[Source: The Star, by Alice Waithera]
