NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 25 – The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) has selected Patricia Nyaundi as Secretary and Chief Executive Officer.
Commission Chairman Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat said on Monday that Ms Nyaundi will oversee the management of the Commission’s Secretariat and policy implementation to ensure successful delivery of its mandate.
"I am especially glad to point out that she becomes one of very few women to hold the role, underscoring the diversity of the Commission’s structure," he said.
The new CEO is the immediate former Executive Director of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya. She formally takes up the role in February.
Ms Nyaundi holds a Master of Laws degree in Human Rights Law from the University of Cape Town South Africa, Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kenya School of Law and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi.
"Patricia brings to the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission a wealth of experience in human rights law practice and which will be of immense value to our work," Ambassador Kiplagat added.
The new appointee was upbeat that she would steer the TJRC well. "My previous experience entailed looking into violations of the rights of individuals and I understand the challenge we are addressing as a country," she said. "It is a perfect fit for me therefore as the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission is dealing with historical injustice and setting the country on a path to national healing and reconciliation."
Meanwhile, all is set for the Commission’s first engagement with the public to ensure clear understanding of its mandate, the delivery process and manner of engagement, underlining the opportunity presented to those seeking transitional justice.
The outreach begins in Coast Province with Voi on Thursday January 28, Mombasa on Saturday, Kwale on Monday February 1, Malindi February 2 and Lamu on Thursday. A similar roll out will follow in North Eastern, Eastern, Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, Central and finally Nairobi in that order, aiming for completion by end of March 2010.
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