Closure delayed for Kenyan camp

Hundreds of thousands fled their homes in the post-election violence

There has been a delay in the planned closure of a camp housing some 10,000 people displaced in electoral violence earlier this year.

The camp's residents had been told they had until Friday morning to leave.

But a BBC reporter says riot police deployed at the camp overnight have dispersed and there is confusion about when the camp may be closed.

In May, the unity government started to resettled the displaced, but many say they are too scared to return home.

The district commissioner in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret said many of them were opportunists, waiting for handouts and must leave.

On Thursday, Leonard Ngaluma said most families in the Eldoret camp had been given 10,000 Kenyan shillings ($140) two weeks ago to help them make the move.

I have no doubt in my mind that we shall be able to close the showground without having to use excessive force District commissioner Leonard Ngaluma Kenya: Struggle for peace

"The moment we gave that money, which we did about two weeks [ago], we had a very clear understanding that they ought upon receiving that amount to move out of the showground," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

But the BBC's Wanyama wa Chebusiri in Eldoret says many of those at the camp say they have not received the money and have nowhere to go.

"I am confident that they will leave," Mr Ngaluma.

"I have no doubt in my mind that we shall be able to close the showground without having to use excessive force."

Eldoret is in the Rift Valley, which was the area hardest hit by the clashes following disputed presidential polls in December 2007.

About 1,500 people died in the violence and 600,000 were displaced.