Kenya: TJRC Report Ought to be Pursued

Published on 3rd June 2013

President Kenyatta (right) receives the TJRC report
How can one be trusted to dispense or build avenues for justice in a society when they are accused of violating the same justice? This critical question lingers in the minds of many Kenyans following the release of the Truth and Justice Reconciliation Commission’s Report (TJRC), led by former Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat.

Redressing old wounds requires collective and individual sacrifices. It entails forgiveness, acknowledging wrongs, and payment of reparations to victims, surrendering of ill-gotten assets to victims or state, confessions by perpetrators or serving in jail.

It remains to be seen how President Uhuru Kenyatta will handle the TJRC findings, which implicates him and his deputy for the Post election violence of 2008. Secondly, majority of Kenyans see the report as authentic and a true reflection of the gross human rights violations and other historical injustices in the Country since independence.

We can’t ignore a report which implicates its own chairman. TJRC report is the surest hope for Kenya for a good beginning to a better future.We expect President Uhuru to reverse the negative cycle started by his father as first President; perpetuated by former President Moi and perfected by his predecessor, Mwai Kibaki.

The real task has begun for the Attorney general, Director of Public Prosecution, the legislature, Judiciary and the Executive to help heal the nation through the TJRC report. It’s perturbing to see a report implicating 400 Kenyans; including the mighty, who have contributed to various violations in our nation since independence.

Going through the nitty gritty of the report, one will cringe in disgust; seeing the names of people mentioned. Whom can we trust, if those whose litany we recite are the same people who work to destroy the nation either as elected representatives or appointees? Many of them are either in the Senate, legislature or executive. Others are marked for various public appointments even when they don’t meet the integrity threshold.Tragically, others a re dead while some are enjoying their loot in retirement when the really hustlers and sufferers - Kenyan tax payers are living from hand-to-mouth. What a man-eat-man society?

The TJRC findings have exposed the nakedness of our nation. Since it was formed to provide Kenyans with a footage on past ills for purposes of nurturing accountability to enhance national peace and justice, it’s of cardinal importance for the government not to white-wash the commission’s recommendations if it cares about the future of Kenya.

This is the biggest test for our justice and legal systems to ensure that recommendations arrived at by the TJRC are  conclusively addressed. Despite the fact that Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy are mentioned, they need to focus on the larger picture and apply the current wave of our democratic transformation to work on a “paradigm shift” which will address our nation’s violent past through the TJRC recommendations. Kenya is larger than their tittles.

Justice is a universal right to all in any society. If our Prison jails are dominated by petty offenders like chicken thieves, Kenyans will not be comfortable to see the ‘big fish’; the real law breakers, who steal, rape, murder, incite, maim and kill being on the loose.

The Kiplagat report must help us to salvage Kenya by curbing the monster of impunity, corruption, injustice, and respect for the rule of law based on the current constitution. It will be extremely tragic to let the TJRC report go down the drain.

Those who have gone ballistic after their names featured in the report should remember that the report is not intended to demonize any individual or community but act as a healing recipe for lasting justice, peace and security in our country.  

We can’t afford to dim the pursuit of Kenya’s prosperity. The realization of the Millennium Development Goals as well as Vision 2030, are all pegged on our capacity as a nation to curb social evils. An infected wound, if not treated, can be fatal.

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo
Atlanta, USA.


This article has been read 1,577 times
COMMENTS