President William Ruto has constituted a 14-member panel of experts to oversee the compensation of victims of protests dating back to 2017.
In a gazette notice dated August 25, the President announced that the team which has a term of 120 days will be chaired by his Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Makau Mutua, with the Law Society of Kenya’s Faith Odhiambo serving as the Vice Chairperson.
The team will also include Amnesty International (Kenya) Executive Director Irungu Houghton who has joined as an advisor in his personal capacity.
Amnesty International Kenya Board Chairperson Dr. Stellah Bosire said the organisation welcomes Houghton’s appointment and urged the panel to push for real repatriation for the victims.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
“Amnesty International Kenya urges the Panel to deliver a comprehensive reparations package. It must include substantial financial compensation, truth-telling, memorials, legal reforms, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition. Transparency and careful verification must guide the process, and the dignity and privacy of victims and their families must be protected,” said Bosire.
“Compensation must not replace criminal accountability. Citizens’ taxes should not shield criminals. Investigations must still be undertaken, and those suspected of having committed violations amounting to crimes must be prosecuted in fair trials,”she added.
Dr. Duncan Ojwang, who recently turned down another appointment to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) amid pushback from within the body, has also been empanelled.
Also listed is Pius Metto who was the Sports Kenya Director General until January this year.
Former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, Reverend Kennedy Barasa, Fatuma Abass, and Raphael Anampiu are among the other members.
According to the panel’s terms of reference, they will be required to come up with a method of verifying claims from the victims, placing them into identified categories, before compensating them.
They will also recommend reparations and accountability measures, including pushing for the prosecution of perpetrators where enough evidence is available.
Similarly, the group has been tasked to outline legislative and instituional reforms to foster responsible policing and proper conduct of protests.
To achieve its goals, the panel is expected to engage various sectors of society, including religious organisations, rights groups, including those affiliated with the state, and relevant state agencies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), and KHRC.
According to Felix Koskei, the head of public service, the compensation panel will operate from the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and will be funded by the exchequer.
“Funding for the Panel and the compensation scheme shall be provided in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act and any other applicable law, utilising auditable payment channels,” reads part of the gazette notice, adding, “The Panel shall ensure transparent accounting, maintain records sufficient for an independent audit, and publish anonymised statistics and progress updates.”
President Ruto will be informed of the progress of the work carried out by the panel from time to time before a final report is submitted.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
President William Ruto has constituted a 14-member panel of experts to oversee the compensation of victims of protests dating back to 2017.
In a gazette notice dated August 25, the President announced that the team which has a term of 120 days will be chaired by his
Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Makau Mutua, with the Law Society of Kenya’s Faith Odhiambo serving as the Vice Chairperson.
The team will also include Amnesty International (Kenya) Executive Director Irungu Houghton who has joined as an advisor in his personal capacity.
Amnesty International Kenya Board Chairperson Dr. Stellah Bosire said the organisation welcomes Houghton’s appointment and urged the panel to push for real repatriation for the victims.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
“
Amnesty International Kenya urges the Panel to deliver a comprehensive reparations package. It must include substantial financial compensation, truth-telling, memorials, legal reforms, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition. Transparency and careful verification must guide the process, and the dignity and privacy of victims and their families must be protected,” said Bosire.
“Compensation must not replace criminal accountability. Citizens’ taxes should not shield criminals. Investigations must still be undertaken, and those suspected of having committed violations amounting to crimes must be prosecuted in fair trials,”she added.
Dr. Duncan Ojwang, who recently turned down another appointment to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) amid pushback from within the body, has also been empanelled.
Also listed is Pius Metto who was the Sports Kenya Director General until January this year.
Former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, Reverend Kennedy Barasa, Fatuma Abass, and Raphael Anampiu are among the other members.
According to the panel’s terms of reference, they will be required to come up with a method of verifying claims from the victims, placing them into identified categories, before compensating them.
They will also recommend reparations and accountability measures, including pushing for the prosecution of perpetrators where enough evidence is available.
Similarly, the group has been tasked to outline legislative and instituional reforms to foster responsible policing and proper conduct of protests.
To achieve its goals, the panel is expected to engage various sectors of society, including religious organisations, rights groups, including those affiliated with the state, and relevant state agencies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), and KHRC.
According to Felix Koskei, the head of public service, the compensation panel will operate from the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and will be funded by the exchequer.
“Funding for the Panel and the compensation scheme shall be provided in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act and any other applicable law, utilising auditable payment channels,” reads part of the gazette notice, adding, “The Panel shall ensure transparent accounting, maintain records sufficient for an independent audit, and publish anonymised statistics and progress updates.”
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
President Ruto will be informed of the progress of the work carried out by the panel from time to time before a final report is submitted.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
By Denis Omondi