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Tana inquiry team appeals for more time

PHOTO | GIDEON MAUNDU The chairperson of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Ethnic Clashes in Tana River, Lady Justice Grace Nzioka (right) and her deputy Emilly Ominde address journalists in Mombasa on December 4, 2012. The commission, which was expected to complete its work by December 10, has appealed to President Kibaki for more time.

What you need to know:

  • Prominent people mentioned adversely are yet to testify, says commission
  • Request comes even after President Kibaki gave the commission another 45 days from October 27 to December 10 to complete its work
  • By the close of business last Wednesday, more than 86 witnesses had testified either publicly or in camera at Minjila, Hola and Bura, said Ms Nzioka

A team investigating the violence in Tana River is seeking a month’s extension to take evidence from prominent people mentioned adversely over the deadly clashes.

This comes even after President Kibaki gave the commission another 45 days from October 27 to December 10 to complete its work. (Read: State pledges to support Tana probe team)

“We need at least one more month. We have a list of witnesses who have not come and we would like them to give evidence,” said Lady Justice Grace Nzioka, the chairperson of the judicial commission.

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Pore over files

The commission has since moved to Mombasa to pore over volumes of files and memoranda collected during hearings at Maridhiano CBO Hall at Minjila in Garsen.

Although the three commissioners Lady Justice Nzioka, Mr AbdulQadir Lolot Ramadhan and Ms Emily Ominde declined to give the list of the prominent personalities to appear before it, it is believed that Defence minister Yusuf Haji, Coast PC Samuel Kilele, and provincial police boss Aggrey Adoli are among them.

Ms Nzioka, however, confirmed that the Commissioner of Lands, Tana Delta DC and the Coast General Hospital pathologist were “crucial witnesses” lined up to testify.

Ms Nzioka added: “Galole MP Dhadho Godhana and his Garsen counterpart Danson Mungatana testified, but we had to stand down Mr Godhana due to technicalities. We expected him to come back and complete his evidence.”

A former ambassador, Mr Hussein Dhadho, was also expected to appear before the commission after failing to testify when he went to Minjila two weeks ago.

By the close of business last Wednesday, more than 86 witnesses had testified either publicly or in camera at Minjila, Hola and Bura, said Ms Nzioka.

“We also received a lot of testimonies through memoranda from Tana River County residents and other Kenyans,” she said.

Killed by raiders

The judge added that the commission visited some of the clashes hot-spots, including Kilelengwani Village where nine police officers were killed by raiders, and Chamwanamuma.

“We also visited Nduru, Semikaro, Shirikisho, Riketa and Ozi which were devastated by the ethnic clashes. We visited Witu, Dide Waride and Tarasaa IDP camps, and if time will allow, we shall visit Marereni and Gongoni camps”, she said.

Ms Nzioka said that the commission’s recommendations would “go a long way in preventing the causes of clashes not only in Tana River County, but the whole country”.

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