BY JOHNWERU,NAIROBI,14TH JULY 2017-Born on November 28, 1936 in Kenya the late Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat who passed on at the Nairobi hospital after a long illness was the former chairman of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation commission (TJRC).
He founded the Africa Peace Forum, where he served as the Executive Director until his death.
He was also an independent consultant on peace and conflict resolution, Kenya’s special Envoy in the Somali Peace Process and the Chairman of the IGAD Technical Committee on Somali National Reconciliation Conference.
Until his death, he was engaged in activities aimed at encouraging community-based peace process in Eastern Africa.
Chronology: spot light on life of Bethuel Kiplagat
He studied Physical Science at Makerere University
He also did Sociology of Religion at Sorbomme University.
2009-2010: Chairman of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation commission (TJRC)
Director of Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Programme of the Sudan Council of Churches in Southern Sudan
He also served on a panel established by the International Peace Academy and the OAU to examine
the institutional relationship between the OAU and the civil society.
1997: Member of Election Monitoring Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya
1991-2003: Chairman African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)
1988-1992: Engaged warring parties in Ethiopia
1988-1992: Facilitated peace talks in Mozambique
Since 1985: He was a resource person to the IGAD Peace process for Sudan and was advising Sudanese civil society on conflict resolution.
1985-1986: Facilitated peace talks in Uganda.
1983 -1991: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
1981-1983: Kenya’s Ambassador to United Kingdom
1978-1981: Kenya’s Ambassador to France
1971-1978: Deputy Secretary with the National Christian Council of Churches of Kenya
Until his death he was the Chairman of Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme and Operation Save Innocent Lives .Member of the Nairobi Stock Exchange and the Executive Director of the Universal Bank of Kenya.