NAIROBI, Kenya- A coalition representing victims and survivors of alleged state violence has criticised the government’s compensation process for excluding victims of abductions and enforced disappearances, describing the move as unjust and contrary to recommendations made by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
In a statement issued ahead of the June 25 anniversary commemorations, the Coalition of Victims and Survivors Against State Violence (CVSSV) accused the compensation panel chaired by Makau Mutua of selectively implementing recommendations intended to provide reparations to victims of state violence.
The coalition said families whose loved ones were abducted, forcibly disappeared, tortured or remain missing had been left out of the proposed compensation framework despite suffering some of the gravest human rights violations.
“Any compensation process that excludes them is fundamentally incomplete, unjust and unacceptable,” the coalition said.
According to the group, none of the 35 documented cases of enforced disappearances and 135 cases involving alleged torture were included in the first phase of compensation payouts.
The coalition argued that the panel lacks the authority to alter or selectively apply recommendations contained in the KNCHR report and called for the immediate inclusion of victims of abductions and enforced disappearances in the compensation programme.
It also demanded the publication of the full list of intended beneficiaries to allow public scrutiny and verification of the process.
The statement was released as victims’ groups prepare to mark the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 anti-government protests, which left dozens dead, injured or missing and sparked widespread calls for accountability.
CVSSV said the anniversary would serve as a moment of remembrance for those killed, injured, abducted or subjected to other forms of state violence during the demonstrations.
The coalition urged Kenyans to participate in the commemorations, describing June 25 as a historic day that symbolises the struggle for justice, accountability and constitutional rights.
At the same time, the group expressed concern over what it described as attempts to intimidate victims, survivors and families planning to participate in remembrance activities.
It maintained that peaceful assembly, expression and commemoration are constitutional rights that should be protected rather than restricted.
The coalition further alleged that criminal groups could be mobilised to infiltrate peaceful demonstrations, engage in looting and violence, and falsely blame protesters for the disturbances.
It called on participants to document any incidents through photographs and videos and preserve evidence for accountability purposes.
The group also reminded police officers deployed during demonstrations of court orders requiring officers managing public assemblies to remain identifiable through official uniforms, visible service numbers and marked police vehicles.
In addition, the coalition criticised the performance of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, accusing the agency of moving too slowly in investigating cases involving police killings, torture and enforced disappearances.
According to the coalition, delays in investigations and prosecutions risk entrenching impunity and denying victims and their families justice.
The group urged oversight and justice institutions to accelerate investigations into alleged human rights violations and ensure accountability for any officers found culpable.
The statement adds to growing calls by victims’ groups and human rights organisations for transparency, accountability and reparations as Kenya prepares to commemorate the June 25 protests and reflect on their lasting impact on the country’s political and human rights landscape.
