As we are in the post poll crisis the question to ask is, “What does the future hold for the Internally Displaced Children who number 100,000 plus of the 350,000 plus Kenyans declared homeless.

In February John Holmes, UN Head of Humanitarian Assistance said that the children will need a lot of counseling to regain their normal status. “Children form our top priority and we are concerned about the psychological trauma they are undergoing by staying in the camps,” he said. At the camps the Rights of the Child have not been prioritized, yet in 1989 the World Leaders and senior state officials pledged to pursue an agenda that would secure the well being of the children. They make a commitment to the children.

According to National Council of Churches of Kenya, in 1992 over 255,000 people were displaced by ethnic clashes that rocked parts of Nyanza, Rift Valley and the Western Provinces. Out of these at least 60% are thought to have been children. In 1993, Human Rights Watch Africa estimated 3,500 people died as 300,000 were displaced. Of these, 75% were children. In 1997, Ethnic clashes in Coast Province displaced more than 120,000 people. It is estimated that more than half of this population were children

Most of those children are now youth/adults who formed the bulk of voters in the 2007 December Elections. They are youth whose education was interfered with: youth whose personality and talents were not developed; youth who suffered discrimination; youth who were not free to associate; who were unable to enjoy and practice their own culture, religion and language; who did not receive appropriate treatment for their recovery and social reintegration; who were not protected from sexual exploitation and abuse or from engaging in work that constitutes a threat to their health, education or development; youth whose interests were not taken care of and whose rights were violated.

What is now happening is bound to repeat itself in future. Five years from now, children who are 13 will be 18. Ten years from now, those who are 8 will be 18. They will be adults who never understood their history, the past truths and injustices and never healed or forgave each other. They will be adults who saw their homes being destroyed and their families being butchered. If they survive the current trauma, the toll will last a lifetime.

According to Dr. Hezron Mc’obewa, who headed the Red Cross Team that undertook rescue operation in Kisumu, Busia, Koru, Vihiga and Muhoroni, “The biggest lesson that has come out of the bloody struggle is that many young people are frustrated at the lack of employment.

Because of high levels of unemployment, the youths get involved in anti-social behavior that ends up hurting a larger section of the community. There is a need to develop the young people and the political class have to initiate the real change in the country.”

Professor Wangari Maathai, Africa’s’ first female Nobel Peace Prize Laureate believes the solution lies in being honest with the children; negotiating for them to go back to school and helping the traumatized children heal. The leaders should be role models to the children through responsibility and shunning corruption.

The UN says a mass immunization campaign is underway, targeting all camps in the North Rift under the Ministry of Health. UNICEF is providing staff and financial support.

A visitor to the camps sees poor sanitation, overcrowding, lack of food, drinking water and basic necessities, fear in everyone’s eyes, looming epidemics, high infant mortality to babies born in makeshift labor wards and pathetic classrooms. Mr. Francis Nganga, the Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General suggested that the schools at the camps should be closed immediately and the children registered in the nearby schools. The overcrowded makeshift classes are not conducive to learning.

Whatever solution the leaders come up with, it is clear counseling has to be done. This is tricky too, since most counselors in Kenya are trained to handle adults or teenagers. Play Therapy works best for the little children who are unable to comprehend the magnitude of the large destruction due to limited life experience.

Counselors will have to help the children understand a lot as they ask,”Which is my tribe?” “Why did this happen?” “Why can’t we go back home ?” “Why am I not going back to school?” “Why can’t I play outside with my friends?” “Why don’t those people like?” ”Will the bad people be punished?” “Will I be shot?”…“Will they burn our things again?”

Much of the primary responsibility of the Internally Displaced People rests with the Government. It is time the International community held the Kenyan Government responsible for failing to honor its commitment to children and youth.

Judith Warria-Rao is a Teacher Living in Nairobi, Kenya

Join BBN for free to post a comment on this page.
If you already have an account, please login here to post a comment on this page.