We should find better ways out of our historical stains

Like all declarations, the historical importance of State of the Nation Addresses rest on the changes they trigger. Four years ago, President Kenyatta made a great speech to our Houses of Parliament on restorative justice, reconciliation and national unity. He revisited an important pledge this Thursday. Given the magnitude of grand graft, leadership conflict and drought, I suspect it may have been missed. Allow me to nudge our memories.

The displacement and violence after the 2007 General Election brought the nation to its knees. Commissioned by President Kibaki, the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) handed over their report to his successor President Kenyatta five years later. The four-volume report analysed 42,465 statements, 1,828 memoranda and over seven decades of history. On March 26, 2015, Kenyatta arguably made one of his greatest speeches citing “the cynical and destructive politics of hate and division.” He offered a bold state apology to the nation, pledged a Sh10 billion Restorative Justice Fund and urged Members of Parliament to adopt the TJRC report.