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{
    "id": 303084,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/303084/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 422,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Trade",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, at one time in the course of their work, I was one of the Kenyans who were very angry with this Commission. I was angry because this is one of the products of Serena negotiations - Agendas 1, 2, 3 and 4. Truth, justice and reconciliation was critical in healing some of the glaring past injustices meted on Kenyans. Unfortunately, the Commission spent a lot of negative energy on wrangling, abusing each other and going to court. They wasted valuable time. But Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we are also alive to the famous unpalatable phrase in this country called “stalled projects.” I do not think any of my colleagues here would want this to be one of the “stalled projects.” The purpose of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission was to find the truth, to define and give a direction to justice and to reconcile the country. I would want to see this come to fruition. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, secondly, the intention and purpose of setting up this Commission at the very beginning was that it was going to be part of the healing process before we go to the 2013 elections. It is my hope and wish that the time we are going to extend, which I fully support--- That is because one, we have spent a lot of resources on this Commission and, two, we are told, and rightly so, that enormous pieces of evidence have been gathered. Many Kenyans have volunteered. In the words of Lord Denning in the Profumo Inquiry; some have gone publicly, sneaked, written, whispered or spoken publicly and openly. Every one of those will expect an outcome in the pursuit of justice, truth and reconciliation. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the interim report has just been tabled. Like all hon. Members, I believe that we have not seen it, but this is not the time to discuss it. The Bill is coming. What I want to urge is an expeditious completion of the work of the Commission. I do hope that the Commission will not go around in unconvoluted manner, like we have been seeing the National Cohesion and Integration Commission constantly behaving, like dogs barking at a new moon at the beginning of every month. We want to see real facts and real direction for the people of this country to reconcile with each other. We want to see historical injustices corrected. But I want to caution that if a country is hell-bent on punishment, it will not reconcile. We must find better avenues. We are talking of reparations. Of course, there are certain injustices that must meet prosecutions. But we want to emphasize on reconciliation. As the Bible says: “The beginning of healing and forgiveness is the acknowledgement of wrongdoing”. Those who did wrong must acknowledge that they wronged others and those who were wronged must have hearts large enough to say: “I forgive you”, so that we can enable our country to achieve the vision we have set for ourselves."
}