Ruto Appoints Panel to Oversee Compensation for Protest Victims

President William Ruto has appointed a 15-member panel to develop and implement a compensation framework for victims of public protests and unrest in Kenya.

The panel, established through a Gazette Notice following a presidential proclamation earlier this month, will be chaired by constitutional law expert Professor Makau Mutua. Faith Odhiambo Mony, President of the Law Society of Kenya, will serve as vice-chairperson. Members include former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, human rights advocate Irungu Houghton, and Dr Duncan Ojwang’, who recently declined a separate government appointment. 

The group brings together individuals from legal, academic, and civil society backgrounds. Its core mandate is to design a framework for identifying, verifying, and categorising individuals affected by protest-related violence since 2017. This includes both civilians and security personnel. The panel will rely on data from institutions such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and the Ministry of Health. 

Where appropriate, the panel may also recommend cases for prosecution through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Operations will be coordinated from the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Richard Barno has been appointed as technical lead, with Dr Duncan A. Okelo Ndeda serving as co-lead. Administrative duties will be handled by joint secretaries Jerusah Mwaathime Michael and Dr Raphael Ng’etich. 

The panel has an initial term of 120 days, which may be extended through further gazettement. Funding for the initiative will be managed in line with the Public Finance Management Act, with all disbursements required to follow auditable procedures. The panel must maintain transparent records, publish anonymised data, and allow for independent audits to promote accountability and public confidence.

The initiative follows longstanding concerns over the lack of compensation for those harmed during demonstrations, particularly around election periods and economic protests.  Previous investigations into protest-related violence have often faced delays or political interference.