President Appoints New Vice-Chair to Controversial Panel

NAIROBI, KENYA – President William Ruto has appointed Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango, the recently installed Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), as the new Vice-Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. The appointment, effective Tuesday, November 4, 2025, was announced in a special gazette notice issued by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

Ms. Ogangah-Onyango replaces the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Faith Odhiambo, who resigned from the position on October 6, 2025. Ms. Odhiambo stepped down following weeks of sustained pressure from the legal fraternity and human rights organizations, who argued that her participation in a presidentially-appointed panel compromised the independence of the LSK. In her resignation statement, Ms. Odhiambo cited the need to safeguard the LSK's unity and independence amid ongoing legal challenges to the panel's work.

A Panel Mired in Controversy

The compensation panel was established via a gazette notice on August 25, 2025, and is chaired by Professor Makau Mutua, President Ruto's senior advisor on constitutional affairs and human rights. Its mandate is to create a framework for verifying and compensating victims of police brutality and violence during the anti-government protests of the last two years, which resulted in over 120 deaths. However, its formation was immediately met with criticism. Legal experts and civil society groups argued that the panel's functions duplicated the constitutional mandates of independent bodies like the KNCHR, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the Victims Protection Agency.

Following a petition, the High Court in Kerugoya issued conservatory orders on October 8, 2025, temporarily halting the panel's operations. This legal hurdle made it impossible for the panel to meet its 120-day deadline, a factor Ms. Odhiambo noted in her resignation. Amnesty International Kenya's executive director, Irungu Houghton, also suspended his participation in the panel following the court's decision.

Broader Concerns Over Human Rights Appointments

The controversy surrounding the compensation panel reflects wider concerns within Kenya's human rights community regarding recent appointments. The selection process for a new KNCHR chairperson, which ultimately led to Ms. Ogangah-Onyango's appointment on October 2, 2025, was itself a subject of intense scrutiny.

The selection panel for that role, which notably included Faith Odhiambo as an LSK representative, was legally challenged by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Katiba Institute. The challenge arose after the panel nominated, and the President forwarded to Parliament, Dr. Duncan Oburu Ojwang for the chairperson role. Critics argued this nomination violated Article 250(11) of the Constitution, which prohibits the chairperson and vice-chairperson of a commission from being of the same gender, as the KNCHR's vice-chair, Dr. Raymond Nyeris, is male. Dr. Ojwang subsequently declined the nomination on August 13, 2025, citing personal reasons and the perceived conflict of interest.

Following this, President Ruto nominated Ms. Ogangah-Onyango, who was approved by Parliament in September and formally appointed on October 2. Interestingly, during her parliamentary vetting on August 29, 2025, Ms. Ogangah-Onyango herself acknowledged that the compensation panel's mandate appeared to encroach on the KNCHR's territory, vowing to protect the commission's independence if appointed.

Implications for Kenya

Ms. Ogangah-Onyango's new dual role as head of the state's official human rights watchdog and vice-chair of a presidentially-appointed compensation panel has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. Her appointment places her at the center of the delicate process of seeking justice and reparations for victims of state-perpetrated violence. For Kenyans, this move will be closely watched as a test of the independence of constitutional commissions and the Ruto administration's commitment to accountability. The success or failure of the compensation panel, once its legal challenges are resolved, will have significant implications for national healing and the rule of law in a country still grappling with the legacy of protest-related violence.