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November 15, 2008.

THE WAKI REPORT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO THE LETTER

The ”Waki commission” is a product of the enactment of the “National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008” which ended the post election violence and also created the Coalition government led by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

After the delivery of the Waki Report, which details events before, during and after the post election violence, both ODM and PNU are in a hurry to dump the Report because an envelope that was handed over to Dr. Kofi Annan who negotiated the National Accord contains names of big shots in both Parties who allegedly played different roles in the post election violence.

Mapambano online wishes to add its voice to the on-going condemnation of the Coalition government members whose agenda is to dump the Waki report because of political expediency.

There have been repeated episodes of violence in Kenya allegedly instigated by different parties in the past. Commissions of inquiries which were subsequently formed (like the Akiwumi commission) wrote reports which were subsequently dumped by the Moi/KANU ruling class.

During Kibaki’s first term in office, many Commission reports were written, handed over to the President then dumped without any action. Other Commission reports like the Sungu report is still waiting for action on the shelves. Mapambano online believes that the Waki report must be implemented for three reasons.

The Coalition government must prove that the country has moved away from the era when Commission reports used to be treated as toilet paper by the ruling class. Millions of tax payer’s money has already been spent on the writing of the Waki Report while the issues it raises are so serious that they need to be brought to a closure. If the Waki report is not implemented, it will be further evidence that the coalition government is not different from the former dictatorship of the Moi regime which specialized in dumping Commission reports and at will. The Coalition government must lead by example, not by deception.

The Waki report also needs to be implemented in order to avoid impunity in the future. Kenya has been through a period when certain politicians were “untouchables”. The Waki report is very clear on what needs to be done. Those whose names are in the envelope have the first option of appearing before a Kenyan Tribunal to absolve themselves or face The Hague if a local “Tribunal based” solution is fails.

This is the way that the process of the delivery of Justice works. One is deemed innocent until proved guilty. The inclusion of certain names in an envelope handed over to Dr Annan does not mean that the suspects are guilty. They remain suspects until proven guilty and if they were not responsible or if they did not play a role in the propagation of violence, this truth should come out.

Lastly, failure to implement the Waki report will amount to abuse of innocent Kenyans who lost their lives during the post election violence. It will be proof that even in the country’s darkest hour, it is possible for top politicians serving in government to escape with impunity. In fact, if the Waki report is not implemented, Mapambano online believes that the people of Kenya should write off the Coalition government because it will be proof that this government does not exist to serve the interest of the Kenyan people but is an institution based on serving the interests of the wealthy ruling class that controls it.

Combined with the failure of the government to resettle IDPs, tampering with the process of implementation of the Waki report should be unacceptable and the Kenyan people need to prepare to rise against the Coalition government as a way of taking the country back from big sharks swimming in the high seas of capitalism and who care only about themselves.

Instead of providing hope that Kenya could be turned around after a major disaster last december, the Coalition government is sending signals that Kenyans need to begin organizing a fresh at the grass roots especially if it becomes clear that this government has sold out the struggle for a better Kenya.

Mapambano Editorial Board