Eldoret - SNV North Rift Portfolio in collaboration with UNICEF organised a one day visit to Eldoret on February 9th 2009 for Andre Vermeer and Marije Balt, both of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Mr. Vermeer is First Secretary in charge of Water and Environment, while Marije Balt is First Secretary in charge of Political and Cultural Affairs.
The objective of the visit was to take stock of the situation of the Internal Displaced Pesons (IDPs) and more specific of their return process within the host communities. The delegation met with local capacity builders active in the reconciliation process. The delegation then visited Illula Primary School where returning internally displaced school children live amongst other communities. This school has a water, sanitation and hygiene school programme that includes a health promotion club, new latrines and hand-wash facilities. The delegation also visited Kimuri community where IDPs still live in a transition camp near their original homes. The District Water Office is currently of rehabilitating 40 open wells in five divisions in Uasin Gishu Districts. The visit focused on three rehabilitated wells supplying the host community and IDPs with water. The wells are located on private land, public land and the school respectively.
SNV will continue to work with stakeholders to promote the integration of the approximately 500 children in nearby schools as the IDP Showground School has been closed. SNV and UNICEF are developing a partnership around the "GoK/UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme" funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the tune of 45 million Euros. A small part of that fund has been used to promote reconciliation between the IDPs and other communities by installing water pumps and initiating water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in schools within areas affected by the violence. SNV gives capacity development support while UNICEF provides the funds.
The Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bert Koenders, visited the area exactly one year ago in 2008, soon after the post election skirmishes.