NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has disbursed Sh1.014 billion in compensation to 1,083 victims of human rights violations, including people who suffered deaths, injuries, sexual violence and economic losses during demonstrations and related incidents.
The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations said Tuesday that claims were being processed on a rolling basis, with each application subjected to verification, authentication and categorisation before a payment decision is made.
The programme covers both civilians and uniformed officers affected by rights violations during the period under review.
1,083 Claims Processed
The Panel said it had processed 1,083 claims across different categories of harm.
These include fatalities, injuries, sexual violence, economic losses and other recognised forms of human rights violations.
The programme has also settled 139 claims involving verified economic losses, particularly those filed by owners of small and informal businesses whose livelihoods and enterprises were disrupted during demonstrations and related incidents.
Economic-loss claims are assessed using evidence such as business records, police records, photographs and witness statements.
“Demonstrations, public protests and related incidents have often disrupted livelihoods, enterprises and property,” the Panel said.
Uniformed Officers Also Compensated
The reparations programme also covers uniformed officers who suffered human rights violations during the period under review.
The Panel said it had received and approved 100 claims from uniformed officers.
The inclusion of officers means the compensation framework extends beyond civilians affected during demonstrations and public protests.
The Panel said the latest awards form part of the fourth and fifth phases of the programme, covering claims that have completed verification, authentication, categorisation and approval.
Phase IV Awards Sh81.75 Million
Phase IV covers 96 civilian claims and 29 claims involving uniformed officers.
The civilian claims comprise:
- Nine fatalities
- 32 severe injuries
- 28 moderate injuries
- 14 minor injuries
- 13 economic-loss claims
The civilian compensation under the phase amounts to Sh74.35 million.
The uniformed-officer claims include one fatality, four moderate injuries and 24 minor injuries, with compensation totalling Sh7.4 million.
The combined value of Phase IV awards is therefore Sh81.75 million.
Phase V Covers 182 Claims
Phase V includes 83 civilian claims and 99 claims involving uniformed officers.
The civilian category comprises two fatalities, 80 aggravated injuries and one economic-loss claim, with compensation totalling Sh10.5 million.
The 99 claims involving uniformed officers include one fatality, four severe injuries, one aggravated injury, 19 moderate injuries and 75 minor injuries.
Those awards amount to Sh22.75 million.
Together, Phases IV and V account for 307 claims worth Sh113.8 million.
Two Victims Get Above-Scale Compensation
The Panel also approved above-scale compensation in two cases after reviewing additional medical reports and information submitted after the initial applications.
One case involves a civilian and the other a uniformed officer.
The Panel said the claims were reclassified following individual assessments under the review provisions of the Reparations Guidelines, 2026.
It will also recommend to President William Ruto that the two victims be enrolled in a government-funded lifetime medical scheme.
The recommendation is intended to provide longer-term support for victims whose injuries require continuing medical care.
Sh105 Million Ring-Fenced Following Court Case
The compensation programme is also facing a legal challenge.
The Panel said it had complied with court directives arising from High Court Petition No. E488 of 2026, filed in July, in which it is named as the second respondent.
As part of that compliance, the Panel said it had sequestered and ring-fenced Sh105 million from the compensation fund for victims of torture and enforced disappearances pending determination of the petition.
The Panel said it recognised concerns surrounding implementation and maintained that transparency and credibility were essential to the reparations process.
It has continued engaging victims and beneficiaries directly to confirm payments, provide updates on claims and address concerns.
Compensation Does Not Replace Accountability
The Panel stressed that financial compensation is only one component of the broader reparations process.
It said compensation does not replace criminal accountability or other legal remedies available to victims.
Instead, the programme is intended to acknowledge harm, restore dignity and provide administrative redress while supporting wider measures including institutional reform and guarantees of non-repetition.
The Panel urged victims and beneficiaries to continue using established communication channels and to rely on official information concerning the status of their claims.
The latest figures bring total programme disbursements to Sh1.01465 billion, according to the Panel’s midterm records.
