TJRC BACK TO WORK

The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission-TJRC will from Monday 24th May embark on a three week statement taking exercise in Mount Elgon.

The Commission which is mandated to inquire into gross human rights violations and other historical injustices in Kenya will then roll out statement- taking countrywide, in July.

" The Commission is keen to hear and document these violations and injustices," the Vice Chairperson Tecla Namachanja Wanjala said in a statement.

She said the statements will form the basis of further research and investigations, a historical record of violations and human rights abuses and identification of additional victims and perpetrators as well as individuals and patterns that may qualify for a public hearing.

15 statement takers will be focusing on the history of conflict and human rights violations, including ethnically based and politically motivated violence, displacement, sexual violence, assault and torture.

Other issues of corruption and grand corruption especially related to land as well as violations of socio-economic rights touching on water, housing, marginalization will be of particular interest.

" It's a great opportunity for the for Kenyans to come forward and tell the truth about their experiences. The statements are confidential and where necessary investigations will be carried out for further verification, Ms Wanjala added.

She said the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission was fully committed to fulfilling its mandate, pointing out that it had completed the code of conduct, hearing rules and statement taking format.

"The Commission is setting up a data base and will be launching our website should be ready by June, " she said.

TJRC sittings have in the past being marred by protests with various groups arguing that the commission is not credible.

The commission's Chairman Bethwel Kiplagat has been under pressure to quit over allegations of bias and misconduct.

He has been accused of being responsible for some of those very injustices and therefore being unable to carry out his mandate.