The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission is in the Rift Valley. The commissioners are currently visiting different towns in the province. They will be in Baringo on 24th October 2011 to 26th October 2011 for the ongoing hearings of historical injustices and human rights violations experienced by people between 12th December 1963 and 28th February 2008. TJRC has so far toured parts of Eastern, North Eastern, Western and Nyanza provinces for hearings.

TJRC is part of the accountability component of Agenda Four (4) of the National Accord signed in 2008. The commission will contribute towards national unity, reconciliation and healing by addressing the cause and effects of historical injustices and gross violations of human rights in various parts of the country. 

This is the third online call for travel grant application that is being offered to journalists to cover the TJRC hearings.  In May 2011, Internews offered journalists a chance to travel to Isiolo and share stories of the people. The online call was competitive and it attracted many applications. Three applicants were selected after review by a panel of media practioners. They included Rose Odengo (online print journalist). Below are links to Odengo’s Story.

http://www.globalpressinstitute.org/global-news/africa/kenya/victims-testify-about-rape-murder-kenya%E2%80%99s-post-independence-concentration-c

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/06/03/Abuses-detailed-to-Kenyan-truth-commission/UPI-57891307131614/?spt=hs&or=tn

Timothy  Gimode (Radio Umoja) and Kennedy Lesiew (Star newspaper).
Lesiew’s story can be found here

In July 2011, the second call for application was announced. Two journalists were successfully picked by a panel of the jury out of seven applications.

They were:
Jessica Nyaboke –The Star newspaper and Caleb Kemboi Bibilia Husema Broadcasting (BHB)
It’s now your chance to experience the same. Internews in Kenya is calling upon interested journalists both radio and print to apply for the mentored travel grant to Baringo for the TJRC hearings slated for 24th October 2011– 26th October 2011.
If interested, please send us the following information by 11th October 2011.    :

• A one page rationale that captures:

1. Why you would like to cover the hearings in Baringo.
2. What story angle you would like to pursue.
3. The total number of stories you are most likely to come up with by the end of the Baringo hearings.

• A one page Resume that captures your journalism work.

The information above will be reviewed by a panel of media practitioners to determine three journalists to benefit from this project.  Please note that only three radio and/or print journalists will be considered for
the Baringo mentored travel grant. 

You can send your information to konyatch@internews.org or to the Land and Conflict Sensitive Project, P.O.Box 7219-00200 Nairobi, Kenya or drop off your application at the Internews offices: I&M Building, 12th floor, Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi, or at the Internews office based in Eldoret: Tabain Plaza, (Japara building) 1st floor.