The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission has acknowledged the new constitutional dispensation terming it as a significant transitional moment in Kenya’s history that will put to an end the injustice era, that has remained a predominant set back to the country.
TJRC remained optimistic that the new law will forge the country forward and also facilitate a conducive environment for the commission to unearth the heinous crimes committed in Kenya since independence.
Speaking on Thursday at the National Dialogue Forum convened by some civil society organisations to assess the work of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission’ TJRC Commissioner Margaret Shava advised that the country should first settle the past before moving forward.
“We cannot seize the moment without dealing with the past and Kenyans must be united in moving forward to a better future,” said Shava.
During the assessment she said despite the commission facing many challenges such as the breadth and time scale of its mandate and financing, the Commission has made significant progress.
“The Commission has almost completed its secretariat staffing, hired and trained statement takers countrywide; the commission has also prioritised hearings developed and signed a code of conduct and agreed on hearing rules due to be gazetted soon,’ Shava said affirmed.
Meanwhile the training of 94 Commission statement takers ended on Friday with their swearing in at Garissa, Mombasa and Embu. The final phase of training will be the Nairobi team due to start next week.
The commission that kick started its operation in 2009 is expected to inquire into human rights violations politically motivated violence, assassinations, community displacements, settlements and evictions committed by the state, groups or individuals.
It will also inquire into major economic crimes in particular grand corruption, historical land injustices and the illegal and irregular acquisition of land especially as these relate to conflict or violence, between December 12 1963 to February 2008.
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