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Life and times of Bethuel Kiplagat

TJRC chairman Bethuel Kiplagat and his deputy Betty Murungi consult at Lamu Town Hall on February 23, 2010. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Former Chairman of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Bethuel Kiplagat died at a Nairobi hospital on Friday .

At 80, the history of this high achiever is long and it is almost impossible to capture it a one page.

The late peace crusader spent most of his life campaign for reconciliation in Kenya, East Africa and beyond.

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Here are some of the highlights of his life:

BIRTH AND SCHOOL

  • 28.11. 1936: Kiplagat is born

  • He studied physical sciences at Makerere University and sociology of religion at Sorbonne (Paris) Universities.

CAREER

  • 1978-1981: Kenya’s Ambassador to France.

  • 1981-1983: Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

  • 1983– 1991: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of  Kenya.

  • 1985 –86: Facilitated peace talks in Uganda.

  • 1988-1992: Initiated and facilitated peace talks in Mozambique.

  • 1988-1992: Engaged warring parties in Ethiopia

  • 1985: Resource person to the IGAD Peace Process for Sudan.

  • 1997: Member of Election Monitoring Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya

  • 2003- 2005: Kenya’s special envoy to the Somalia peace process from

  • 2009- November 2010: Chairman of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC). He later resigned after coming under investigation for past human rights abuses, particularly his role in the 1984 Wagalla Massacre.

  • He also served as the Chairman of Juhudi Kilimo Company Limited and Chairman of K-Rep Bank Limited.

  • He was the founder and former executive director of Africa Peace Forum.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member of the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
  • Executive Director of the Universal Bank of Kenya.
  • Chairman Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme and Operation Save Innocent Lives.

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