The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Team decided to establish an Independent Review Committee, a non-judicial body, which will be mandated to investigate all aspects of the 2007 Presidential Election and make findings and recommendations to improve the electoral process; a Commission of Inquiry on the post electoral violence which aims at recommending measures of a legal, political or administrative nature, as appropriate, including measures to bring to justice persons responsible for criminal acts; a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission which will inquire into human rights violations including politically motivated violence, assassinations, community displacements, settlements and evictions, major economic crimes, in particular grand corruption, historical land injustices, and the illegal or irregular acquisition of land between December 12, 1963 and February 28, 2008.
In principle, these agreements meet demands made from the start of the crisis as they make truth, justice and the fight against impunity as well as reconciliation prerequisites for long lasting peace in Kenya. The agreement between Kibaki and Odinga is, however, not an end in itself but the beginning of a process through which Kenya’s democracy and human rights will be strengthened.
FIDH and KHRC therefore request the Kenyan parliament and all relevant public authorities to ensure the rapid establishment of the Commissions and inquiries, guaranteeing their independence, allocating adequate resources and requisite funding, so as to enable them to achieve their broad mandate to make sure that it will contribute effectively to the fight against impunity and the deterrence of further crimes. These organs should enable the full participation of civil society and survivors of the violence and other human rights violations.
Press contact : Karine Appy + 33 1 43 55 14 12 / + 33 1 43 55 25 18 - kappy@fidh.org