Truth team asks for more time

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING

By PETER OBUYA potieno@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, July 31  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Request for yet another term extension casts doubts whether TJRC will fulfil its mandate

The justice and reconciliation team is seeking six more months to complete its work.

Tuesday’s request has cast doubts on whether the team will provide a roadmap to national unity, healing and reconciliation before the General Election.

The term of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) ends on Friday.

It had previously been extended by nine months before yesterday’s fresh request for more time.

Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa, who received the commissioners in his office yesterday, said he had asked Parliament to extend their tenure.

Human rights violations

“A further extension of tenure for the team is necessary if it is to give us a comprehensive report on its findings and I have already filed a motion before Parliament seeking for a six-month extension,” Mr Wamalwa said.

The commission’s mandate was to investigate and address the causes and effects of human rights violations in Kenya between December 12, 1963 and February 28, 2008 when the National Accord was signed.

Share This Story

  

With only seven months to the General Election, Kenyans could go to the ballot without knowing the findings of the reconciliation body.

The commission was set up in 2009 with a two-year term.

In November last year, the team was granted six more months that expired on May 3. Parliament then granted another three-month extension.

Mr Wamalwa blamed wrangles between the commissioners and court cases for stalling progress.

“It is regrettable that the commission lost valuable time due to various problems including court cases, but we fully appreciate the work they have done so far and the need for a comprehensive, accurate report that adequately documents the historical grievances and proposes possible remedies,” said the minister.

He said he was optimistic MPs would grant another extension as this was provided for under the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2012.

He said the scope of the team’s mandate was vast and the two-year term was impractical, adding that its progress report about the ground it had covered showed the need for more time.

“Looking through the work of the commission so far, it has come to our realisation that it cannot be able to complete its report by August 3 as expected when it sought an extension in May.”

Some of the tasks the commission needed to complete before presenting its final report included receiving and considering applications for reparations and making recommendations.

It is also expected to promote reconciliation among some groups and communities.

The commission received 40,098 statements and 1,529 memoranda from individuals and communities countrywide, the highest for any truth commission worldwide.

It has also heard directly from 696 witnesses.