Payback time for Sultan of Zanzibar

TJRC

JANUARY 17, 2010

BY EUGENE OMILO 

An Islamic organization has asked the government to consider changing the mandate of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)  so that it hears injustices done before 1963.

The Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac)’s national congress chairman Stambuli Abdullahi said Coast residents  have been treated unfairly even in the pre independence days and asked the TJRC to look into injustices done to them  by the Sultan of Zanzibar after the region was declared a protectorate.

“Since we have decided to address past injustices, let us not confine ourselves to 1963 alone because a lot of injustices done before then still continue to haunt our communities,” said Sheikh Ngao, the organisation’s national chairman.

The two said Kemnac has already prepared views to be presented before the commission which includes the plea to have pre colonial injustices against the Coastal community are pursued. 

Noting that the government has not implemented previous reports presented to it by various commissions, Kemnac national chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao urged the government to ensure the commissions’ effort and the resources used do not go to waste by failing to implement recommendations.

Sheikh Ngao was speaking after attending the organization’s national executive council meeting at the Sapphire hotel in Mombasa yesterday.

Currently, the commission’s mandate is to inquire into human rights violations committed by the state, group or individuals in the period between December 1963 and February 2008 then submit its report in two years.

ENDS…