Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission demands justice for Taveta residents

By Renson Mnyamwezi

TAITA, KENYA: Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) has recommended criminal investigations of a little known atrocity against 45 residents of Kitobo sub-location in former Taita Taveta District in July and August 1983.

TJRC has recommended proceedings against a former PC and local District Officers in charge of the area at that time. This former PC, allegedly, presided over or ordered the mass arrest of these people, their illegal detention and confiscation of their property while a junior officer in charge of Bomeni Division.

According to the TJRC report published on Tuesday, security forces conducted a mass arrest and detention of 45 residents of Kitobo Location. The scars of the arrests are still evident today and the detention is said to have targeted ethnic Pare members of the Taveta tribe for political reasons related to that year’s General Election.

Reports show most of those who were targeted were told they were not Kenyans. They lost property, identity cards and other belongings. TJRC says the victims were incarcerated at Voi Remand Home and Tevata Prison and demands that the Director of Public Prosecution should investigate this incident.

While TJRC says the former PC should be investigated over the incident, the former provincial administration told the commission when he testified to it that at the time he is alleged to have presided over this atrocity he had, in fact, been transferred to West Pokot. And yesterday residents and leaders in Taita-Taveta County demanded the full implementation of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission report on historical land injustices.

At the same time the leaders who include former Voi MP Basil Mwakiringo and Taveta Council of Elders spokesman Nahashon Mkunde want those found to have been irregularly allocated land in the region be prosecuted and stolen land reverted back to the people.