By FELIX OLICK
Kenya: Implementation of the explosive Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report that puts on the spot all the post-Independence regimes remains the Governments biggest headache as its recommendations sinks in.
The detailed report has made bold recommendations including prosecution of high-flying Government officials and politicians, reparation of victims of historical injustices as well as recovery of illegally acquired land.
The 2000-page report adversely implicated the past three regimes for presiding over numerous gross violations of human rights including political assassination, massacre, irregular acquisition of land and economic marginalisation.
The report also names a senator and scores of MPs from across the country as having been involved in land grabbing, fanning ethnic clashes and brutality by security forces at the height of repression.
But according to the report handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, grievances over historical land injustices constitute the single most important driver of con?icts and ethnic tension in Kenya.
“The commission ?nds that historical grievances over land constitute the single most important driver of con?icts and ethnic tension in Kenya. Close to 50 per cent of statements and memorandum received by the commission relates to or touched on claims over land,” the report details in part.
The commission now want the newly constituted National Land Commission to expedite the process of recovering irregularly acquired land and implement measures to revoke illegally obtained tittles.
But the Jubilee Government may have to walk a tightrope in executing some of the recommendations as most of those named are connected powerful politicians.
The new report would also put a lot of strain in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions since hundreds of Kenyans have been recommended for investigations and prosecutions.
According to the report, President Jomo Kenyatta presided over a Government that was responsible for numerous gross violation of human rights including the Shifta War, killings, torture, collective punishment and denial of basic needs.
The report also puts blame on the independence Government for the political assassinations of Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya and JM Kariuki as well as arbitrary detention of political opponents and activists.
The then Government is also faulted for illegal and irregular acquisition of land by the highest government o?cials and their political allies.
The commission also recommends adoption of a policy that targets the socio economic development of historically marginalised regions.
