Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned as vice chairperson of the government’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing a stalled mandate and delays caused by a court order.
In a statement on Monday, October 6, Odhiambo said she stepped down after realising it was no longer possible for the panel to fulfil its 120-day assignment, which has been halted by the courts since early September.
“The time-bound mandate of the Panel has been stopped by our Courts, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved and settled,” noted Odhiambo.
The panel was created through a Kenya Gazette notice on August 25, 2025, following a Presidential Proclamation on August 6, to develop a framework for compensating victims of police brutality and state excesses during public protests.
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It was expected to verify data on eligible victims, recommend reparations, propose institutional reforms, and deliver a final report to the President within its four-month tenure.
The team was chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, who also serves as a senior adviser on constitutional affairs and human rights to President William Ruto.
Other members included Kennedy Ogeto, Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International Kenya, Dr John Olukuru, Rev. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Dr Linda Musumba, Dr Duncan Ojwang, Naini Lankas, Dr Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu.
Richard Barno was appointed technical lead, with Dr Duncan Okelo Ndeda as co-technical lead.
Shortly after its gazettement, the panel was sworn in by the Judiciary and housed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
However, a High Court order suspended its operations, stalling all its planned work.
Odhiambo explained that victims of police excesses continued to reach out in frustration over delays in being heard, saying she would instead channel her efforts through the LSK to pursue justice on their behalf.
“It is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritise other avenues of responding to the plight of victims,” observed Odhiambo.
She added that a team of LSK advocates was already in court representing victims of police violence during the 2023 demonstrations against the high cost of living.
Odhiambo further pointed out that Kenya’s existing victim reparations framework remains weak and must be urgently reformed to deliver justice faster and more effectively.
“LSK will engage all justice stakeholders and human rights institutions to formulate legislative proposals to reconcile the infirmities in our laws and institutions that have left victims prejudiced,” explained Odhiambo.
She also outlined plans to push for the memorialisation of victims, the publication of their identities, and petitions to Parliament for new legal protections for demonstrators and compensation where abuses occur.
Her resignation, she noted, was guided by the need to preserve the integrity of the rule of law institutions at a critical time in Kenya’s constitutional reform journey.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she said.
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Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned as vice chairperson of the government’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing a stalled mandate and delays caused by a court order.
In a statement on Monday, October 6, Odhiambo said she stepped
down after realising it was no longer possible for the panel
to fulfil its 120-day assignment, which has been halted by the courts since early September.
“The time-bound mandate of the Panel has been stopped by our Courts, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved and settled,” noted Odhiambo.
The panel was created through a Kenya Gazette notice on August 25, 2025, following a Presidential Proclamation on August 6, to develop a framework for compensating victims of police brutality and state excesses during public protests.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
It was expected to verify data on eligible victims, recommend reparations, propose institutional reforms, and deliver a final report to the President within its four-month tenure.
The team was chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, who also serves as a senior adviser on constitutional affairs and human rights to President William Ruto.
Other members included Kennedy Ogeto, Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International Kenya, Dr John Olukuru, Rev. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Dr Linda Musumba, Dr Duncan Ojwang, Naini Lankas, Dr Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu.
Richard Barno was appointed technical lead, with Dr Duncan Okelo Ndeda as co-technical lead.
Shortly after its gazettement, the panel was sworn in by the Judiciary and housed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
However, a High Court order suspended its operations, stalling all its planned work.
Odhiambo explained that victims of police excesses continued to reach out in frustration over delays in being heard, saying she would instead channel her efforts through the LSK to pursue justice on their behalf.
“It is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritise other avenues of responding to the plight of victims,” observed Odhiambo.
She added that a team of LSK advocates was already in court representing victims of police violence during the 2023 demonstrations against the high cost of living.
Odhiambo further pointed out that Kenya’s existing victim reparations framework remains weak and must be urgently reformed to deliver justice faster and more effectively.
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“LSK will engage all justice stakeholders and human rights institutions to formulate legislative proposals to reconcile the infirmities in our laws and institutions that have left victims prejudiced,” explained Odhiambo.
She also outlined plans to push for the memorialisation of victims, the publication of their identities, and petitions to Parliament for new legal protections for demonstrators and compensation where abuses occur.
Her resignation, she noted, was guided by the need to preserve the integrity of the rule of law institutions at a critical time in Kenya’s constitutional reform journey.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she said.
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By David Njaaga