By Gakuu Mathenge

Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat’s name is synonymous with peacemaking and negotiations.

Kenya’s involvement in stabilising neighbouring countries spans more than 30 years and Kiplagat has witnessed it all.

"Kenya cannot develop or enjoy security if her neighbours are at war. Peaceful neighbours are our markets and guarantors of our security," he says

Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat

The soft spoken, Kiplagat made a career sneaking guerrillas from their bush hideouts to international conferences and negotiation tables, and persuading governments to climb down from hardline positions and talk to dissidents and ‘terrorists’.

From the Liberation Front of Mozambique rebels, Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement, John Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Meles Zenawi and his anti-Haile Mengitsu Mariam’s government guerrilla activities, to the warring Somali warlords, Kiplagat has literally spent his life shuttling between capitals, bushes and rebel bases.

"It involved sneaking into rebels bases, talking to guerrillas and their advisors, passing their messages to their governments and going back to the rebels with messages from governments. Of course I was not working alone, there were other people involved," he says.

Nearly all the major rebel movements and guerrilla groups and leaders in the region have had offices, families and relatives in Nairobi, from where they waged diplomatic and propaganda campaigns. But Kiplagat confesses he never at any time imagined Kenya would ever go up in flames, and he would ever need to play peacemaker for his motherland.

But when the 2007 presidential election was disputed, the country imploded. For three weeks, many Kenyans watched in horror the prospect of a civil war.

"For a moment it appeared the country had plunged into a civil war. Kenyans of goodwill went to the media with peace messages.

"Without a script we announced anyone with ideas on how to end violence should attend ad hoc discussions at Serena. Many turned up," he recalls.

Other prominent personalities in this group included former Army commanders Lt Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo and Lt Gen Daniel Opande.

"We were not doing anyone’s bidding. We only did what needed to be done at a critical moment, appealing for calm and end to violence, to secure an environment where the disputing sides could talk with each other. Once they started talking, we got out," he recalls.

"Miracles happen at critical moments in Kenya’s history. When at Serena, agonising what to do and without a leader, I bumped into former Sierra Leonean President, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. I thought, here is a former President and he can help us.

"I learnt he was to fly out of the country and I told him, your Excellency, please do not leave, you must help us. He agreed to listen to me," Kiplagat recalls.

Kabbah had been in Kenya as part of the Commonwealth election Observer Group.

"He kindly agreed to stick around. Former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya turned up at the Serena discussions, and I grabbed him, briefed him and took him up to President Kabbah’s room.

After introductions I left. Kabbah sent Kimunya to President Kibaki, who agreed to meet Raila. Then I took Opande and introduced him to Kabbah. He was dispatched to speak to the PM. He too agreed to talk for the sake of restoring peace. Kabbah’s intervention formed the basis of the work of the Panel of Eminent Persons, and the country was on its way back to peace," he recalls.

Kiplagat has been recalled from retirement to chair the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

"I want to help Kenyans talk to each other. I am a grandfather and do not wish my grandchildren to spend their lives running away or in fear of their neighbours. I am only a chairman and not working alone," he says.

On Thursday, the commission issued a statement, saying it had no powers to grant amnesty for post-election violence suspects, and was not looking for such powers.

Vice-chair Betty Murungi says the commission has recommended changes to strengthen and make it more effective.

"We need changes to make recommendations of TJRC mandatory. The state must be committed to honour things like reparations for victims. TJRC is a victim-centred process and honouring recommendations is very critical," she said.