Kenya has joined the world in commemorating the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning gross human rights violations and the dignity of victims.
The day serves as a global reminder of the importance of truth and justice.
In Kenya, it was marked by the reignition of long-standing frustrations over the government’s failure to implement reparations for victims of historical injustices
Human Rights and Transnational Justice Advocate Tina Alai called attention to the stalled Sh10 billion Restorative Justice Fund, announced by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26, 2015.
The fund was intended to compensate survivors of the 2007-08 post-election violence (PEV) but remains unimplemented a decade later.
"Furthermore, the 2013 Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report, which provided a comprehensive roadmap for reparations, has never been acted upon since it was handed over to the former president," Alai noted.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) report that in 2017, the Office of the Attorney General, with support from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Kenya Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation (KTJN), developed regulations and a draft policy to guide the fund’s disbursement.
However, the process stalled before reaching the National Treasury and Parliament.
CSOs further highlighted that successive governments have repeatedly pledged to address reparations, yet little action has been taken.
Survivors and human rights advocates have repeated calls to the government to honor its commitments, operationalize the fund, and ensure justice for victims of past atrocities.