Versions of Truth and Collective Memory: The Quest for Forgiveness and Healing in the Context of Kenya's Postelection Violence

Abstract

The Truth, Justice and reconciliation Commission (TJrC) in Kenya was set up in the aftermath of the 2007/8 postelection violence with the mandate of providing a platform for those who had experienced political injustices. This crucial organ in the project of national reconciliation has unfortunately spent most of the first half of its tenure dealing with internal squabbles. There have been claims that some of its commissioners do not merit holding positions in such an esteemed body. The chairman of the TJRC faced criticism regarding his integrity, which has led to his resignation. The TJRC’s problems were further compounded by “the ethnic angle” the debate took when members of one community declared that they will not participate in the TJrC if the chairman is removed (Kenya National Accord Monitoring Project). Against this backdrop, this review essay discusses selected narratives in Billy Kahora’s Kwani? 5 The Fire This Time as an alternative repository of stories, memories, and versions of truths that could perhaps guide the country on a path of truth, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. The significance of Kwani? 5 to our understanding of the postelection violence hinges on the journal’s retrieval of stories that evoke contrary memories to those in circulation, and in so doing, provide alternative accounts to the official government version of the causes of ethnic tensions and violence in Kenya. The versions of “truths” from official political organs are in conflict with the “truths” as narrated in Kwani? 5. The journal uncovers a form of repressed knowledge, widely unacknowledged within the official political discourse. As such, Kwani? 5 is an