Ruto Names 14-Member Panel to Develop Compensation Framework for Protest Victims

Nairobi, Kenya – President William Ruto has constituted a 14-member panel of experts tasked with designing a legal and institutional framework for compensating victims of protests and riots across the country. The move signals the government’s response to rising public concern over injuries, deaths, and property losses linked to political demonstrations.

Composition of the Panel

The team will be chaired by Makau Mutua, Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs. Notable members include:

• Kennedy Ogeto, former Solicitor-General

• Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya

• Duncan Otwjang, legal scholar

• Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, who will serve as vice-chair

Other members bring expertise from law, human rights, and governance, reflecting the panel’s wide mandate to balance constitutional rights with state accountability.

Mandate and Scope

According to a Gazette Notice signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the panel is expected to:

• Propose a clear framework for compensating victims of protests and riots.

• Establish procedures to guarantee transparency and accountability in the compensation process.

• Recommend institutional mechanisms to prevent abuse of the system.

• Ensure that victims’ rights are respected while maintaining public order.

The panel’s secretariat will be housed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

Funding and Transparency Measures

The panel will operate under the Public Finance Management Act, ensuring its activities are budgeted, audited, and legally compliant.

To enhance public confidence, the team has been directed to publish anonymised progress reports at regular intervals. These updates will document compensation trends without exposing personal details of victims.

Background and Context

The appointment comes after months of protests that left dozens dead and hundreds injured in clashes between police and demonstrators. Civil society groups have long pressed for a compensation mechanism for victims of state excesses and mob violence, citing Kenya’s constitutional guarantees of human dignity and the right to life.

However, critics have warned that without robust oversight, compensation funds could be vulnerable to mismanagement, much like past disaster relief programmes.

Looking Ahead

The success of the new panel will hinge on how well it balances justice for victims with accountability for public funds. Its findings are likely to influence not only compensation policies but also the wider debate on how Kenya manages protest rights and state security operations.

By institutionalising compensation, the government seeks to demonstrate responsiveness to public grievances, even as questions linger over long-term solutions to recurring unrest.