Security agents to appear before truth team

By JOEL OKWAYO

Security agents will defend themselves against claims they committed atrocities during the post-election violence before the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).

The commission will gather the defence of security officers before compiling its report.

The TJRC CEO Patricia Nyaundi said before they hand over their report to Parliament, all the parties implicated in the statements taken from the public will be given a hearing.

"We are still taking statements. Matters related to shooting and killing of innocent people are emerging," she said.

Their role

　

Ms Nyaundi said the commission will ensure the police, Provincial Administration and the military departments appear before it to give their versions on the role they played while quelling the violence.

She said the team will hold institutional hearings.

"The move will enable the commission to come up with various recommendations on how to handle a problem of that nature and magnitude in future," she said.

Nyaundi announced the taking of statements will end in January next year with the compilation of the report.

"We will also invite security chiefs to appear before us and give their defence," she added.

Nyaundi said they were operating within the time frame to ensure they wind up by November next year, as stipulated in the terms of reference.

She said Mt Elgon District will be the first to be handled by the commission.

"Mt Elgon left many families homeless while more than 700 people were killed, we shall begin from here as we go on," Nyaundi told The Standard on Tuesday.

In order to speed up the hearings in Mt Elgon, Nyaundi said TJRC had partnered with ActionAid International to increase the number of statement takers.

Residents accused the Sabaot Land Defence Forces of torture.

She said TJRC and statement takers from ActionAid will also take oath of confidentiality.

Mr Nixon Otieno of ActionAid said Mt Elgon District is a unique case and that it requires a higher number of staff to speed up collection of information from the survivors.

"We have partnered with TJRC because some of the women and youth require special approach for them to speak out freely," said Mr Otieno.