Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Unearth the truth, CJ urges probe team


Unearth the truth, CJ urges probe team

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Attorney General Githu Muigai (left) during a news conference after the swearing in on members of a  team to probe the helicopter crash that killed six government officials including Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode. On the right is Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. EMMA NZIOKA
Attorney General Githu Muigai (left) during a news conference after the swearing in on members of a team to probe the helicopter crash that killed six government officials including Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode. On the right is Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. EMMA NZIOKA 
By BENJAMIN MUINDI bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, June 20  2012 at  14:08
The team that will investigate the helicopter crash that killed six Kenyans including two ministers was sworn in Wednesday with calls to unearth the truth.
The five-member team chaired by Court of Appeal judge Kalpana Rawal will investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash that killed Internal Security minister George Saitoti his deputy Orwa Ojodeh, two pilots and two bodyguards.
It was sworn in at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga accompanied by Attorney General Githu Muigai and Transport minister Amos Kimunya, who appointed the team in line with the Civil Aviations Act.
"This team must be alive to the history of probes and inquires of similar nature, which have been used as a whitewash,” CJ Mutunga said.
“It must be alive to the strong underlying public concerns on this crash, which it must address directly and steadily without cowering or intimidation… It must restore public confidence in public inquiries,” he added.
The CJ asked the team not to deepen the grief of the families affected through shoddy work urging them to remain forthright in their conduct, professional in their operations and courageous in work and findings.
“To do otherwise will be an unforgivable assault to justice, to families and an indefensible dereliction of duty to country, and an irredeemable dishonour to self.”
The members are Maj Gen (Rtd) Harold Mwakio, Maj Gen (Rtd) Charles Wachira, Capt Peter Maranga, Chief Inspector Mark Owenga and Fredrick Opot.
Transparent investigations
They will be assisted by counsel from the offices of the AG and Director of Public Prosecutions James Warui, Charles Mutinda and Faith Irari.
On his part, Mr Kimunya said: “We are confident in the team appointed that we can finally learn the circumstances that have caused us so much sorrow in the country.”
He noted that the team has the responsibility of assuring the families of the six Kenyans who died in the crash that justice is done.
“We want to assure the public that open, thorough and transparent investigations will be conducted and the the report will be made possible to the public in the earliest time,” Prof Muigai added.
Lady Justice Rawal said that members of the families affected are free to participate in the investigations, or to appoint representatives.
She will also be charged in determining the time and other resources that the team will require to carry out the undertaking, while Mr Kimunya will notify the public on the date of the first public hearing.
This will be after the commission has found a secretariat to operate from.
Mr Kimunya also noted that foreign investigators including the helicopter manufacturers, their government and insurance will be party to the investigations.

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