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Truth commision to begin work
soon
Daily Nation
Story by LUCAS BARASA
12. March 2008
The proposed Truth and Justice Commission could be gazetted this
week, negotiators at the ongoing National Dialogue and
Reconciliation talks said Tuesday.
The PNU and ODM representatives also announced that they were
about to conclude Agenda IV of the talks. This involves land,
legal and constitutional reforms and is the last item of
discussion.
On Tuesday, Eldoret MP William Ruto said PNU and ODM negotiators
were now going to “assist Parliament understand the agreement so
far”.
Implementation
He said everybody involved in implementing the recommendations of
the negotiating team should take their responsibility seriously.
“It is unfair for us to agree on positions and fail to agree on
implementation,” he said.
PNU is represented at the talks by Cabinet ministers Martha Karua,
Sam Ongeri, Moses Wetang’ula and MP Mutula Kilonzo. Mr Ruto,
Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi, Aldai’s Sally Kosgei and Ugenya’s
James Orengo are ODM’s representatives.
Sources at Tuesday’s session chaired by former Nigerian minister
Oluyemi Adeniji said the negotiators agreed that the Justice
Commission be gazetted. This means its terms and conditions will
be set and each side will name its representatives to the team.
Working plan
The team proposed that the commission should start its work
immediately and implement a two-year working plan.
Mr Wetang’ula, the Foreign Affairs minister, said an independent
review committee to investigate last year’s disputed presidential
elections would start its work on March 15.
The team is headed by a former head of South Africa’s Electoral
Commission Chistiaan Kriegler. Other foreign experts are a
Malawian and an Argentine.
ODM has appointed child rights activist Catherine Muyeka Mumma and
Mr Francis Angila Aywa to the team. PNU is yet to do so.
A spokesman for Mr Adeniji, Mr Nasser Ega-Musa said Tuesday’s
session proceeded well contrary to claims that it was stormy after
a controversial statement by Civil Service head Francis Muthaura
on the government structure for the proposed grand-coalition.
Mr Ega-Musa said the talks had been pushed to tomorrow to enable
the negotiators attend Parliament.
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