It is now Kiplagat’s turn to resign

Betty Murungi’s resignation from the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) is a blow to its chair, Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat.

The commission is now in a bad state and time has come for its disbandment and the setting up of a tribunal to investigate Kiplagat’s past conduct.

Why should he continue taking us for a ride by stating one minute that he is quitting only to change his mind and insist he is staying put?

Kiplagat’s resignation would allow the rest of the commissioners to get down to work and fulfil their mandate to Kenyans.

{Christopher Okinda, Nairobi}

The resignation of Ms Murungi from the TJRC should serve as a wake up call to the appointing authorities.

I think her decision was selfish and cowardly because Kenyans trusted her to do a good job, not quit. Now after getting her pay, she has started casting aspersions on others. She should not have taken the job in the first place.

{Charles Siele, via e-mail}

I wish to commend Murungi for taking the bold step to resign from TJRC.

Hers was a timely move and shows we still have Kenyans who are principled enough not to hold public office for personal and selfish reasons.

TJRC has become a house of shame and further association with it can only dent one’s image. The move is a wake-up call to Kiplagat that chest thumping is not the best way to handle the matter.

He should borrow a leaf from Murungi and step aside since Kenyans have rejected him. The sooner this is done, the better for him as he would salvage a modicum of respect.

He should not hold the commission and the whole country at ransom.

{Philip Mbindyo, Sawagongo}

Betty Murungi has finally done what she ought to have done two weeks ago and quit the banquet hall that is TJRC.

As a parting shot, she referred to powerful forces of impunity out to derail TJRC’s work. She lamented that the commission was underfunded and that the ministry of Justice was wielding excessive control over it.

Reading between the lines, Kenyans cannot fail to surmise that Mr Kiplagat is a hostage of those forces and that perhaps he is under threat not to resign.

Otherwise, why has he on two occasions offered to step aside only to hurriedly change his mind "after conferring with people outside TJRC?"

Clearly, some reactionary forces from the past intend to control and possibly emasculate TJRC and Murungi in her own words "doesn’t want to be part of that charade".

She went further to state that had Martha Karua remained Justice Minister, matters would not have "come to a head".

Wolf after sheep

Could this be a veiled attack on the intentions, motives and leadership qualities of Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo? Is Murungi then stating that we may have sent a wolf to look after the sheep?

Should Kenyans not then re-examine the whole cast and replace them with persons who have the will and ability to act in the best interests of the nation?

{Daudi Mwenda, Nairobi}