By Xinhua
Nairobi : Kenya’s rival parties have agreed to set up a truth and reconciliation commission to help in ending the tumult which engulfed the nation following President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election in December.
During the talks, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, both sides Monday agreed to set up the commission that would include local and international jurists.
Addressing a news conference Monday night, Annan said the representatives of the Party of National Unity (PNU) led by Kibaki and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Raila Odinga have agreed on the immediate measures to promote peace, reconciliation, healing and restoration.
“The two parties agreed to encourage and help displaced people settle back in their homes or other areas and have safe passage and security throughout,” Annan said and stressed that UN investigators should look into alleged human rights abuses in the African country.
They also recommended the provision of basic services for people in temporary camps and ensure that there is adequate food, water, sanitation and shelter for the afflicted – in and outside the temporary camps, the former UN chief said.
The two parties also agreed to provide information centres where the affected can get information regarding the assistance that is available to them and how to access it, for example, support for reconstruction of their livelihood, or tracing of family members.
According to Annan, the two sides also agreed to operationalise the humanitarian fund set up for the resettlement of the affected people in the post-election violence.
They agreed to ensure that victims of violence in urban areas are not neglected and to ensure that the reconciliation and peace building committees are established at the grassroots level.