Truth team ‘will not bring justice’

The truth commission will not offer the kind of justice Kenyans are seeking against masterminds of post-election violence.

Head of the Anglican Church Archbishop Eliud Wabukala said the TJRC would only offer a soft landing for people who caused chaos Kenyans after the 2007 disputed polls.

“TJRC should only be used to bring healing and reconciliation among Kenyans but not as a way of delivering justice,” said Dr Wabukala adding that the commission could be manipulated by politicians.

“This is a deliberate effort by the Cabinet to force the commission on Kenyans and it is meant to defeat justice,” said Dr Wabukala. He made the remarks at Nambale Magnet School in Busia on Sunday.

He said the “small people” who were used to cause chaos after the 2007 elections are the ones who needed to be reconciled with their victims through TJRC while the key suspects should be tried at a local tribunal or at the ICC.

Elsewhere, two MPs supported the move to introduce in Parliament a Bill to establish a local tribunal. Former Justice Minister Martha Karua and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo said they will scrutinise the Bill by Imenti Central’s Gitobu Imanyara that seeks to have key architects of the violence taken to The Hague.

“Because the government is dragging its feet at a time when internally displaced people are suffering, MPs will look at the Bill by Imanyara critically and support it,” said Ms Karua.

Speaking at Igembe Boys secondary school during a funds drive, the Gichugu MP said most of the suspects do not feel like they did anything wrong and thus would never be repentant if subjected to a truth and reconciliation commission.

Give team a chance

But Agriculture assistant Kareke Mbiuki urged Kenyans to give the truth team a chance. “If politicians are forgiving one another, what would stop the common mwananchi from following suit?”

At the same time, Mr Linturi said ways to end impunity in regards to post-election violence should be supported. “If the Bill is brought to the House and we find that it has addressed all the pertinent issues we will pass it,” Mr Linturi told the Nation on phone.

But Konoin MP Julius Kones wondered why Mr Imanyara had changed tune as he was among those who opposed the special tribunal Bill in Parliament in February.

The International Centre for Policy and Conflict and Haki Focus lauded MPs for “taking up the momentous responsibility of introducing the Special Tribunal Bills in Parliament.”

Reports by Ouma Wanzala, Charles Wanyoro and Lucas Barasa