Making progress

Recently I have been trying different avenues in order to obtain a forensic pathologist to review the evidence in John's murder. No sooner do I think I have someone when they disappear (not literally) off the face of the earth, never returning emails or phone calls. It's been quite frustrating.

But I have an excellent lead which I'm quite excited about. I will not provide more details until I know it's a done deal, though. I write this simply to have prayers said that it will work out in the manner we need and we're able to get an independent review.

Human Rights Citation

KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Citation for 2006 Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award to Fr. John Anthony Kaiser

The Awards Committee for the Third Annual Human Rights and Democracy Awards confers the Milele (Lifetime Achievement) Award posthumously on Father John Anthony Kaiser for dedicating his life to the pursuit of human rights and justice for the Kenyan people.

During his thirty-six years in Kenya, Father Kaiser challenged the Government on corruption and advocated against land grabbing and excess by local politicians. An outspoken critic of the Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalized in society. Father Kaiser devoted himself to working with the internally displaced following ethnic clashes in the Rift Valley in 1992. In 1998 he told a judicial inquiry that two cabinet ministers had trained people to rid the area of opposition supporters. Following these accusations, he was told to leave the country and went into hiding, but due to protests from the Kenyan people and successful lobbying from the U.S Government, the decision to deport him was revoked.

Father Kaiser was a firm supporter of women’s rights in every aspest of his work; he courageously protected and supported two girls who were alleged to have been raped by a cabinet minister. He helped furnish the evidence that the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA- Kenya) relied on to institute a private prosecution against Julius Sunkuli, previously a minister of State in the Office of the president.

Father Kaiser stood firm in the face of intimidation and death threats. He never compromised or changed his position in the face of external pressure, but continued his struggle to protect and promote human rights in Kenya till the end of his days. We honour his lifetime achievement and hope that the mystery surrounding the death of this committed individual will one day be unraveled.

Human Rights Crusader Wins Award

A Catholic missionary priest whose death five years ago still remains a puzzle has been awarded the country's highest human rights honour.

Fr John Anthony Kaiser shared the Milele (Lifetime) Achievement Award with noted environmentalist and human rights crusader, Prof Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize for Peace.

The award was given by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) during a ceremony attended by among other guests, Bishop Cornelius Schilder of Ngong Diocese, where Fr Kaiser worked.

The national human rights group said Fr Kaiser dedicated his life to the pursuit of human rights and social justice for the Kenyan people during his 36 years in the country.

"An outspoken critic of the [former President Daniel] Moi regime, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the poor and marginalized in society. Fr Kaiser devoted himself to working with the internally displaced people following the State-engineered ethnic clashes of 1992."

Fr Kaiser was found dead in mysterious circumstances on August 24, 2000. A judicial inquiry into the death continues in Nairobi.

In 1998, he told a judicial inquiry that two cabinet ministers had trained people to eliminate opposition supporters where he worked. As a result, he was told to leave the country and went into hiding.

"Fr Kaiser was a firm supporter of human rights in every aspect of his work," the Commission said. "He courageously protected and supported two women who are alleged to have been raped by a Cabinet minister, who also happened to be the Minister for Internal Security."

He worked with the federation of Women Lawyers (Fida-Kenya), which sued Julius Sunkuli, then a Cabinet Minister, in connection with the allegations.

He stood firm in the face of intimidation. He never compromised or changed his position in the face of great pressure, but continued the struggle to protect and promote human rights till the end of his life.

"We honour his lifetime achievement and hope that the issues surrounding the death of this committed individual will one day be unravelled," the Commission said.

Court looking into priest's death to visit church house

Court looking into priest's death to visit church house Story by NATION Reporter Publication Date: 2/21/2006

A court inquiring into the death of Catholic priest John Anthony Kaiser will visit a church house where he spent his last evening. It will then hear more evidence from a witness who interacted with the priest before his death in 2000. The Mill Hill missionary was last seen at the house of the Ngong diocese bishop on August 23, 2000, only hours before he died. His body was found at Morendat junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road with part of the head blown off. Suicide verdict A team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, which joined the Kenyan detectives on August 25, concluded that Fr Kaiser, who headed the Lolgorian Catholic parish in Ngong, committed suicide. But church leaders and human rights lobbyists rejected the report and pressed for an inquest. The priest was at the Ngong diocese on the evening of August 23, 2000, looking anxious, tired and in fear of something, the diocese's vicar-general, Fr Francis Mwangi, told the inquest. Fr Mwangi, the caretaker of the bishop's house, said Fr Kaiser told him that he wanted to rest and was directed to a guest room. Took away blankets But Fr Kaiser was in the room for less than an hour and drove out. He took away blankets, bed-sheets and a pillow, which were later found near his body the following morning. The only other place where he is said to have been spotted that night was in Limuru, Kiambu, where he drove into a home and left after a short while. Yesterday, former Nakuru CID boss Mary Kipchumba Ruara told the court that she first suspected the priest had been killed. She said the investigations were then taken over by other officers. The inquest continues this afternoon.

Moi was involved

Priest tells Kaiser probe of Moi link in evictions Story by MARK AGUTU Publication Date: 02/16/2006

President Daniel arap Moi sanctioned the eviction of displaced families who were taking refuge at Maela following tribal clashes over decade ago, an inquest heard yesterday. A priest, Fr Francis Mwangi, said the Head of State visited the victims camping at Maela along the Nakuru-Narok border in November 1994 and promised them "a Christmas gift". However, come Christmas eve, all the displaced families at the trading centre were kicked out, contrary to their expectations, the priest said. "It dawned on us that the eviction was the Christmas gift the president had promised," Fr Mwangi told magistrate Maureen Odero at the inquest into the death of Father John Antony Kaiser. The two priests were at the time stationed at Maela, helping the families which had ran away from their homes in the wake of tribal clashes. "When the President made the promise, we were happy that something good was finally going to happen. But Fr Kaiser cautioned us to wait and see instead of celebrating," Fr Mwangi said. The two priests were themselves bundled out of Maela by policemen on December 27 at 10pm on "orders from above". Fr Mwangi, questioned by Mr Mbuthi Gathenji, for the Catholic Church, said the evictions later drew international attention and led to visits by high-profile figures, including an American envoy, who was blocked from reaching the displaced families. Later, Fr Kaiser compiled a report of human rights violations and presented it to the a judicial commission of inquiry into the disturbances. But testimony on the alleged approval of the clashes by President Moi was expunged from the inquiry records, Fr Mwangi said. The hearing continues.

Kaiser was murdered

'Brother': Kaiser was murdered Story by NATION Correspondent Publication Date: 2/7/2006

A missionary brother yesterday claimed that there were some people behind the death of Catholic priest Anthony Kaiser. Brother Alfonse Borgmam told a Nairobi court that Fr Kaiser did not commit suicide. However, he did not name those he believes were involved in the murder. The missionary brother said his conclusion was based on what he had seen before and Fr Kaiser expressed fear for his life. Brother Borgmam also told the court that he knew Fr Kaiser as a strong man who had a strong conviction. He was testifying during an inquiry into the death of Fr Kaiser. Fr Kaiser, a Mill Hill missionary who headed the Lolgorian Catholic Parish in Ngong, Kajiado District, was found dead at Morendant junction on the Nakuru-Naivasha road. His head had been blown off and his shotgun lay nearby. Committed suicide A team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, which joined Kenyan detectives on August 25 to investigate the death, concluded that Fr Kaiser committed suicide. But church leaders and human rights lobbyists rejected the report and pressed for an inquest. The missionary brother said he knew the priest since 1960 when they first met in London. Brother Borgmam, who has been in the country since 1974, said he shared a table with the Catholic priest a day before his death. Fr Kaiser, he said, travelled from Lolgorian and came to Nairobi on August 21, 2000. "The arrival of Fr Kaiser coincided with my birthday party,' he said, adding that he had invited the priest to the birthday party but he failed to attend. According to brother Borgmam, the priest had an appointment with the Pope's representative in Kenya the following day. He said he drove the priest to the place where he was to meet with the Pope's representative. He said on their way to the Nuncio's place, he noticed that Fr Kaiser was in a very low mood but didn't ask why. The priest, he noted, appeared unsettled. The hearing continues.