Life and times of Bethuel Kiplagat
TJRC chairman Bethuel Kiplagat and his deputy Betty Murungi consult at Lamu Town Hall on February 23, 2010. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Former Chairman of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Bethuel Kiplagat died at a Nairobi hospital on Friday .
At 80, the history of this high achiever is long and it is almost impossible to capture it a one page.
The late peace crusader spent most of his life campaign for reconciliation in Kenya, East Africa and beyond.
Here are some of the highlights of his life:
BIRTH AND SCHOOL
28.11. 1936: Kiplagat is born
He studied physical sciences at Makerere University and sociology of religion at Sorbonne (Paris) Universities.
CAREER
1978-1981: Kenya’s Ambassador to France.
1981-1983: Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
1983– 1991: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Kenya.
1985 –86: Facilitated peace talks in Uganda.
1988-1992: Initiated and facilitated peace talks in Mozambique.
1988-1992: Engaged warring parties in Ethiopia
1985: Resource person to the IGAD Peace Process for Sudan.
1997: Member of Election Monitoring Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya
2003- 2005: Kenya’s special envoy to the Somalia peace process from
2009- November 2010: Chairman of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC). He later resigned after coming under investigation for past human rights abuses, particularly his role in the 1984 Wagalla Massacre.
He also served as the Chairman of Juhudi Kilimo Company Limited and Chairman of K-Rep Bank Limited.
He was the founder and former executive director of Africa Peace Forum.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Member of the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
- Executive Director of the Universal Bank of Kenya.
- Chairman Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme and Operation Save Innocent Lives.
