Preachers challenge TJRC report

Muslim preachers have demanded for the publication of the original report of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission after three foreign commissioners disowned the one submitted to President Kenyatta. (Read: TJRC denies claims report was doctored)

At the same time, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (Cipk) clerics also challenged local commissioners led by commission chairman Bethwel Kiplagat to respond to allegation raised by their foreign colleagues that they had tampered with the final report to protect key people in the government, including President Kenyatta.

Three foreign commissioners Ron Syle (South Africa), Gertrude Chawatama (Zambia) and Berhanu Dinka (Ethiopia) claimed some paragraphs on land chapter linking prominent leaders to illegal land acquisition were expunged from the final report.

“We are challenging local commissioners to respond to such allegations. Their colleagues raised serious issues touching on their integrity and they should not bury their heads in the sand. We need to hear their side of the story,” Cipk secretary general Sheikh Mohammed Dor said at a press conference over the weekend.

He said preachers had anticipated that something “weird” would happen to the TJRC report especially chapters touching on land grabbing.

“It is a big shame for Prof Kiplagat to hand over a report full of alterations. He has betrayed the whole country,” added Sheikh Dor.

He also appealed to President Kenyatta to implement the report.

Sheikh Dor observed that the country will remain polarised along ethnic and social lines unless the truth comes out.

Payout

“We also want the final TJRC report to provide for compensation to victims of Wagalla massacre and land grabbing,” he added.

Separately the Muslim for Human Rights Forum executive director Al-Amin Ki­mathi termed the allegations of tampering as a slap on the face” of the people of Kenya.

“It is really unacceptable,” he said in an interview with Friday Bulletin, a weekly Muslim publication.