Kenya: Internally Displaced Persons

In the wake of the disputed results of Kenya's 2007 presidential election, violence broke out, and ethnic communities that were considered "strangers" in certain areas were forcefully evicted and their houses burned. As a result, more than 1,000 people were killed, and more than 600,000 people were displaced from their homes. One group of displaced families, living in tattered tents in the town of Maai Mahiu, used funds provided by the Kenyan government to collectively buy a piece of land, which they subdivided and on which they intend to permanently settle. Habitat Kenya partnered with these 120 families, among them were Linet Gesare Maroko and Teresia Kwamboka Silal. The first set of photos in this essay were taken while Linet and Teresia were still in their tents in 2009, in the process of building their Habitat homes, the second set are from a follow up visit to the families in 2011 to document their improved living conditions. 

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