Tibaijuka, who visited Zimbabwe in 2005 as a special envoy of then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, ruffled feathers in Harare when she accused President Robert Mugabe of breaching international law with his controversial Operation Murambatsvina slum clearing campaign.
At least 700 000 people were left homeless in 2005 after their backyard shacks, shantytown homes and informal businesses were destroyed by police in an operation that was roundly condemned by the international community.
Tibaijuka was sent by Annan to probe the home demolitions and issued a damning report saying the campaign violated the rights of poor people and was possibly a crime at international law.
She rejected Mugabes claims that Murambatsvina was merely a slum clearing operation saying in her report that the campaign appeared aimed at emptying the shanty settlements of support for then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai, who became Prime Minister after agreeing to join Mugabe in a unity government last year, vehemently opposed the home demolition campaign.
Announcing her decision to join the Kenyan legislature Tibaijuka said she had no qualms quitting her UN job, saying her new role allows still afforded her an opportunity to serve ordinary people. “Im happy with my title as MP,” she said. “People like me who understand rural Africa have to pay back to the society.”
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