Ministers named in list of shame
Civil society members during the launch of faces of impunity in Kenya report at a Nairobi hotel on August 24, 2011. The report implicates prominent Kenyans in human rights violations and grand corruption. Photo/TOM MARUKO
Eight Cabinet ministers are among prominent Kenyans named as the faces of impunity in a human rights report.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission list comprises former and serving permanent secretaries, MPs, provincial administrators, senior police and military officers, political activists, diplomats and Cabinet ministers.
Others are a prominent psychiatrist, CEO of a leading bank, former and serving High Court judges, a former broadcaster, Parliament employees and businessmen.
According to the Lest we forget; the faces of impunity in Kenya report released on Wednesday, those named are said to have either been involved in gross human rights violations, grand corruption and other economic crimes.
The list was compiled from various commissions set up by the government to investigate human rights violations, including the Akiwumi report on land clashes and the Ndung’u report on irregular public land acquisition.
Others are the Kiliku report on ethnic clashes, parliamentary report on the Artur brothers and murder of Dr Robert Ouko, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights report on the 2008 post-election violence.
According to senior Kenya Human Rights Commission programmes officer Tom Kagwe, those mentioned must be investigated afresh and if found guilty sent to jail.
The report also recommends that the individuals be barred from holding public office.
Mr Kagwe called on Parliament to prioritise the passing of laws and the establishment of institutions to deal decisively with impunity.
“How do we for instance let one person rob three governments of taxpayers’ money? This must stop. Those found guilty must be taken to jail.”
Mr Kagwe added: “This culture of stepping aside must also be stopped if we are to end the culture of impunity in the country. If you have been found guilty you have to resign.”
Former Constitution of Kenya Review Commission chairman Yash Pal Ghai said the report showed that some government officials had no respect for the law.
“The government is full of people who like illegalities. This must be stopped,” said Prof Ghai.
