Kiplagat finally exits from TJRC

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 - The besieged chairman of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Bethuel Kiplagat has finally bowed to public pressure and quit.

Capital News confirmed that Mr Kiplagat got an audience with President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday morning and handed in his resignation letter.

It was understood that he had no intention of calling a press conference to announce his decision "after being hounded by the media."

Amb Kiplagat kept everyone guessing on Monday after speculation mounted that he had decided to quit the TJRC after months of clinging onto the post.

Last Friday, the Chief Justice appointed a tribunal to investigate his conduct after a petition was sent by his fellow commissioners.

Amb Kiplagat has been facing mounting public pressure to resign from fellow commissioners, the civil society and the public after questions were raised about his ability to lead the TJRC since he was in government when a number of atrocities that the commission is supposed to investigate were committed.

Among the issues that the public want cleared include the Wagalla massacre of 1984, and the circumstances surrounding the death of one-time Cabinet Minister Robert Ouko.

Amb Kiplagat was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when Dr Ouko was killed.

Long after Capital News broke the story, a statement was sent to the newsroom by Mr Kiplagat, explaining his decision.