Commissioners welcome Kiplagat back to TJRC

By Ally Jamah

Embattled Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Chairman Bethwel Kaplagat is officially back at his old job, after two years in the cold.

The development was announced on Wednesday by Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa after brokering a deal that saw other commissioners accept their former boss back in office.

"The Commissioners of TJRC have been able to reach an amicable solution to work together and move forward the process to complete a critical process that all Kenyans are waiting for," said the minister without giving details.

Previous attempts by Amb Kiplagat to return to TJRC were met with stiff resistance from survivors of the Wagalla Massacre of 1984 in Wajir County, in which he was allegedly linked.

Kiplagat bounced back a day after the commission had completed hearings across the country and was beginning to compile a report to be given to President Kibaki.

Mr Wamalwa praised the commissioners for "putting the country first" by agreeing to have Kiplagat back, saying the move "is in the national interest".

But commissioners refused to take questions from the media to clarify the move that may raise eyebrows among a section of Kenyans opposed to the chairman’s return.

"They have indeed shown that reconciliation as per their mandate is not just something they preach, but something they are ready to practice and to lead by example. The country must give this team the support they require," Wamalwa added.

However, a senior source at the TJRC revealed that the deal was reached after they realised that they had no legal basis for rejecting Kiplagat after a court threw out a case challenging his leadership of the commission for alleged link to the Wagalla Massacre.

"We have also been assured that Kiplagat will not be involved in writing the report in areas where he is adversely mentioned and he has a conflict of interest including the Wagalla Massacre. Even Kiplagat has accepted that condition," said the source who declined to be mentioned.