Ruto: Protest Victims to Start Receiving Compensation by June

President William Ruto has said victims of past demonstrations will begin receiving government compensation by June if the current process proceeds without interruption.

He made the announcement during a joint parliamentary group meeting attended by lawmakers from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Ruto told legislators that the government has put in place structures to manage the compensation process in a lawful and transparent manner.

He acknowledged that legal disputes had slowed progress but said recent court guidance has allowed the programme to move forward. “It is our belief that unless something else happens, we should be able to conclude this exercise by June,” he said.

A victims’ compensation panel, established in line with court recommendations and formally gazetted, will oversee the exercise. The government has worked with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to compile a verified list of victims. The list includes individuals affected during demonstrations dating back to 2017.

Parliament is expected to approve an allocation of Sh2 billion to fund the payments. Ruto said financial compensation cannot replace lives lost but can offer support to families and individuals who suffered harm. “You can never compensate for a life lost, but you can do something about it,” he said.

The President also addressed the protection of the constitutional right to protest. He said the government will not draft new legislation on protest safeguards to avoid any conflict of interest. Instead, it will recommend that the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights lead the process.

For many years, victims of protest-related violence have struggled to obtain recognition or redress.