COPA member appointed in Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission Kenya

Prominent COPA member Tecla Namachanja Wanjala has been sworn in as member of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) in Kenya.

Tecla is one of the founders of COPA. Her experience in peace building is extensive. She has set up and managed camps for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during the ethnic clashes surrounding the Kenyan General Elections in 1992. For seven years she worked as the coordinator of the Peace and Development Network of the NGO Council (PeaceNet). In this period she also undertook a MA course in the USA in conflict transformation.
Through her involvement with IDPs in 1992 she became the pioneer of trauma healing in Kenya, skills she has used broadly after Kenya’s Post-Election Violence of 2007/2008. Furthermore, based on her wide experience, she trained hundreds of peace practitioners from community to national level, from inside and out of Africa, in basic skills in conflict transformation.

Tecla was one of the 1,000 women nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize by the global women’s movement Peace Women Across the Globe (PWAG). These 1,000 women represent the millions of women who have devoted themselves to a future free of violence.

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) is one of the pillars of the National Accord in Kenya, agreed upon after the Post-Election Violence of 2007/2008. The mandate of the TJRC involves inquiring into human rights violations, including those committed by the state, groups, or individuals. Spotlight will be on events which took place between December 12 1963 (Kenya’s independence from Great Britain) and February 28 2008. However, it will as necessary look at antecedents to this date in order to understand the natures, root causes, or context that led to such violations, violence or crimes.

The focus of the TJRC includes but is not limited to politically motivated violence, assassinations, community displacements, settlements, and evictions. In addition, the TJRC will investigate major economic crimes, in particular grand corruption, historical land injustices, and the illegal or irregular acquisition of land, especially as these relate to conflict or violence. The Commission will complete its work within two years and submit a final report, stating its findings and recommendations.

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, led by Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, was sworn in by Chief Justice Evan Gicheru at the High court. For footage of this ceremony, please visit youtube