TJRC SUPPORTED

Deputy Speaker Mr Farah Maalim came out strongly in support of the Justice and Reconciliation Commission chairman Bethuel Kiplagat Friday.

The TJRC team, he said, should be allowed to resume its duties so that historical injustices can be put to rest.

Parliament, Mr Maalim said, followed due process in vetting the ambassador before appointing him as the commission’s chairperson.

He accused those calling for his resignation as having other motives as they knew of his background.

“If these issues are genuine they should have been raised during his appointment,” Mr Maalim said.

He urged those with concrete evidence against Mr Kiplagat that proves that he should not run the commission should follow the due process by tabling it before the Attorney General or the Ministry of Justice.

The AG, he added has not received any credible evidence against the TJRC chairman that requires the establishment of a tribunal to carry out investigations.

He pointed out that Kenyans who have suffered from historical injustices want to be heard.

The deputy speaker maintained that Mr Kiplagat was appointed through an Act of Parliament and asked those opposed to his appointment to respect the law.

The TJRC, he stated, should stop wasting time by engaging in “endless talks” and instead perform their duties as required.

He dismissed those calling for the amendment of the Act saying that the law can not keep on being changed to make it easier to remove certain people.

Mr Kiplagat has been under pressure to resign because of his high profile position in the Moi regime, where his role could form part of the commission’s work.

Last week, the TJRC Commissioners petitioned the Chief Justice Evan Gicheru after the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo directed them to him.

In the petition, the commissioners want the tribunal established to investigate claims of illegal acquisition of land, the death of former Foreign Affairs minister Robert Ouko and the Wagalla Massacre.

However, the deputy speaker denied Mr Kiplagat’s involvement in the Wagalla Massacre saying that those involved are known.

“We know the people including the government agents that were involved and we are ready to testify before the commission. Ambassador Kiplagat was not involved, he was the Foreign Affairs permanent secretary then.”

He urged Mr Kiplagat to stay put in his position as the TJRC chair until he is vindicated or indicted through a due process.