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Kenya lawyers question Jaoko's ouster
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) executive director George Kegoro (left) and Fida's Grace Maingi during a news conference after attending a jurists' forum on the brainstorming of proposed nominee to the vetting tribunal at the Norfolk Hotel. They questioned the removal of Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission's chair Florence Jaoko September 8, 2010. JENNIFER MUIRURI
Posted Wednesday, September 8 2010 at 12:04
They said the Commission’s profile since former chairman Maina Kiai left needed urgent intervention and its image rebuilt.
Further, they doubted if Ms Jaoko would be up to the task in implementing the new Constitution.
Ms Jaoko’s position is elective and argues that she had not been treated fairly by the commissioners.
The commissioners later instituted a formal process by asking Ms Jaoko not to swear in as chairperson when they took a fresh oath of office following the promulgation of the new Constitution.
Ms Jaoko, however, went ahead and swore as chairperson blocking efforts to replace her.
Previously, the commissioners were divided over alleged leakage of vital witness protection information by one of them.
Initially the wrangles had also pitted the then Commission’s vice chair, Mr Omar against Ms Jaoko.
The two were elected on July 5, 2008. Ms Jaoko was elected to replace Mr Kiai whose term ended on July 29, 2008.
The rivalry of the two escalated the boardroom wars within the rights watchdog.
Documents that the Daily Nation saw as well as interviews with former staff members indicated that a section of the commission led by Ms Jaoko was pushing for disciplinary measures against Mr Omar for being vocal and constantly giving statements to the press without the chairperson’s knowledge.
According to a former employee, tensions has been building within the commission since July last year, when the Commission released a list of 219 suspects linked to the 2008 post election violence where 1,133 people were killed and 650,000 displaced.
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