Truth Commissions as Learning Institutions to Deal with the Past: The Case of Kenya

Abstract

Cognitive institutionalism provides an important theoretical tool to understand the dynamics of social change. Mental models, collective individual learning, institutions and organizations are addressed in this article to show the approach to the process of truth construction, in particular the Commission for Justice, Truth and Recociliation of Kenya (TJRC), which was characterized, among other factors, by high levels of corruption and many contradictions, due to its overly broad mandate. Although the search for truth and reconstruction has started, there is still a long way to go so that human rights and their violation are recognized by the State of Kenya. This essay seeks to articulate some lessons from cognitive institutionalism with the complex dynamics of reconstruction of truth in the TJRC.