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KISII TJRC Hearings End

Details

Published on Sunday, 31 July 2011 00:39

Presided over by Commissioner Margaret Shava with Commissioners Prof. Tom Ojienda, Ahmed Farah, Prof. Ron Slye, Berhanu Dinka and Gertrude Chawatama on the panel the TJRC sitting  IN Kisii heard various testimonies regarding post 2007 election violence, marginalisation and wrongful termination. The hearings were also attended by National Cohesion and Integration Commission Vice Chairperson Mary Onyango and District Commissioner Mr. Felix Soi.

Mr. Chris Ooko from Migori narrated how he lost his legs  and his property as a result of the post –election violence. He said he had been on his way to the market where he owned a doughnut shop when police shot him in the leg.

“ I made several trips to the hospital to get treatment. All my savings  were spent on treatment. I underwent two surgeries  but was not healed and eventually my legs had to be amputated. This made it difficult for me to provide for my wife and child,. My wife eventually left me,” Mr. Ooko said.

He said that while he appreciated his artificial legs, they were uncomfortable and he could not walk or stand for long hours. However Mr. Ooko said he had not given up, had since remarried with 3 children and had resumed his doughnut business.

Al Hajji Ramadhan Hussein presented a memorandum on the marginalisation of the Nubian community, which he said should be gazetted as the 43rd ethnic group in Kenya. He lamented that the Nubian cemetery in Kisii had been sold out to a church leaving them without  a burial site; Kisii Muslim Primary School had been changed to Kisii Primary School and  lack of land meant they could not marry Kisii girls because they could not own land as they were not considered Kenyans.

Mr. John Senema Sirmani a former Unga Ltd employee said he had been unlawfully terminated from work for injuries he sustained while on the job.

“Bundles of flour fell on me while I was on duty and my back, feet and chest. The company did not pay for my medical expenses at Kenyatta National Hospital. While I was recuperating at home I received a dismissal letter which did not indicate reasons for dismissal,” Mr. Sirmani said.

He added that he had written letters seeking help from the president and Ministry of Labour and received assurances that they would look into the matter but that nothing had been  done about it to date.

Speaking during the closing of the Kisii public hearings, presiding Chair Commissioner Shava thanked all who had participated and commended the witnesses for speaking out courageously.

“We have heard you on the inter ethnic border conflict, the 1982 coup attempt, marginalization, wrongful dismissals, socio- economic violations, land injustices, detention and torture, internal displacement, injuries and losses suffered during the 2007 post election violence, administrative injustices, and sexual violations. We appreciate your desire to be reconciled and acknowledge your demand for justice. We urge you to contribute towards the national quest for healing and unity. We have noted your concern that these violations that you have recorded should not recur in the future,” Ms Shava said.

She urged the women to attend the women’s hearings which will be held at the same venue, St Vincent Catholic Centre tomorrow.

The Nyanza hearings resume  in Kuria at the CDF Hall Kehancha on Monday 25th July, 2011.