Lobby groups blast government for failing to implement TJRC report

By Mercy Kahenda

Kenya: Lobby groups have faulted the Government for failing to implement recommendations of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report.

International Commission of Jurist (ICJ), civil society and Rift Valley Law Society of Kenya (LSK) officials said despite the report having been handed to the President on May 21 last year, little has been done to implement its recommendations.

According to Victor Kapiyo, ICJ programmes officer, respective authorities, including the President, National Lands Commission (NLC) and Inspector of Police should address colonial and post-independence historical injustices and apologise to the public.

“There are people who feel they were oppressed by the former governments, which calls for the President to apologise as an indication that the Government is committed to justice,” said Kapiyo.

Kapiyo noted implementation of the report would bring reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among different communities in the country. He added that the Attorney General should present a Bill to Parliament to come up with a full committee to find strategies on mechanisms that will be used to implement the report.

Rift Valley LSK Chairman Kipkoech Ng’etich said Parliament has no mandate to revise the TJRC report that was compiled in the last nine years since MPs will be influenced politically.

“The TJRC report is good but at the same time, it might have some mistakes that should only be corrected by Parliament and not make amendments,” said Ng’etich.

Same parcel of land

He added the NLC should address land issues, which are the main source of conflict among communities mostly in Rift Valley region.

He noted that Nakuru County has more problems related to land, adding that more than one title deed is issued on same parcel of land. “There are so many cases pending in court where a parcel of land is issued to several people yet the titles are from the District Lands Registrar. This calls for NLC to come up with proper strategies of finding a lasting solution,” he said.

According to TJRC recommendations, land-related issues should be addressed and proposed recommendations implemented within 36 months from the time the report was submitted. The report recommended a survey, demarcations and registration of public land be done by the Ministry of Lands.