Help me now not when I die, says 2008 post-poll victim

“Do not send money to my funeral when I am dead. Help me when I am still alive.”

That is what Orinda Ndege told journalists during an interview at his home recently. He appealed to friends and relatives to help him before he dies.

Ndege lost 11 members of his family in Naivasha during the 2008 post-election violence. Since then, life has never been the same for the 70-year-old man. The 11 included his two wives and nine children.

Ndege, who was a fisherman in Lake Naivasha before he was uprooted from Naivasha by post-election violence, is today in dire need of a decent house.

He says because of the injuries he sustained he cannot do manual work and make enough money to build himself a decent house.

Speaking to journalists at his home in Kobala Village in Karachuonyo Constituency, Ndege appealed for financial help.

He said many leaders had promised him help, but none had fulfilled their promises.

“I appeal to everybody who knows me in Kenya and abroad to intervene and support me in building a house. I plead with you to support me when I am still alive. Any contributions that you will make when I die will not help me,” Ndege said.

He has prepared a paybill to mobilise funds to fulfil his wish to have a decent house.

“I also feel like living in a decent house like any other Kenyan. May people support me,” he added.

Ndege is among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are still waiting for compensation from the government.

A similar appeal was issued by the Director of Nyanza Western Kenya Caucus IDPP Erick Oyugi.

Oyugi said Ndege was living in a deplorable state after losing children who would have been supporting him today.

“All of us suffered in the post-election violence but Ndege suffered most. Today, his children who would have been supporting him financially are no more. We appeal to well-wishers to intervene and help him construct a house,” Oyugi said.

Oyugi urged MPs to support them by approving their compensation petition when it is tabled in Parliament.

He argued that approving the petition will enable the government to compensate them.

The caucus Co-ordinator in Homa Bay County Maurice Onyango said many victims had lost money to conmen.

“There are people who hoodwink the victims that they can talk to the government on their behalf.”