KIRINYAGA, Kenya – President William Ruto’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests has suffered yet another major setback after the High Court in Kirinyaga extended conservatory orders halting its operations, barely hours after LSK President Faith Mony Odhiambo resigned as vice chairperson.
Justice Magare Dennis Kizito extended the interim orders until October 21, 2025, when the matter will be heard.
The court directed petitioners to file submissions within three days and gave respondents seven days to reply, emphasizing timely service of documents to avoid procedural delays.
The ruling prolongs the paralysis facing the 18-member panel, which President Ruto gazetted on August 25, 2025, to oversee reparations for victims of demonstrations dating back to 2017.
The panel, chaired by lawyer Makau Mutua, was meant to develop a legal and institutional framework for compensating victims of police brutality and property damage during protests.
However, its mandate was halted after activist Levi Munteri filed a constitutional petition challenging the legality of Gazette Notice No. 12002, arguing that the establishment of the panel lacked public participation and a proper legislative foundation.
The court’s latest directive deepens uncertainty over the panel’s 120-day tenure, which is likely to lapse before the case is concluded.
Faith Odhiambo, in her resignation statement earlier in the day, cited the judicial blockade as a major impediment, noting that victims continue to reach out “in total frustration” as their pleas for redress remain unheard.
“My resignation takes cognizance of the crucial moment Kenya finds itself in the quest for constitutional implementation and justice for victims of police excesses,” Odhiambo said, vowing to continue championing victims’ rights through the Law Society of Kenya.
The government had hailed the panel as a critical step toward addressing historical grievances arising from protest-related abuses.
But critics have described the process as “politically influenced” and legally untenable, calling for a parliamentary-led mechanism anchored in law.
Legal experts say the court’s continued intervention underscores the constitutional complexities surrounding executive-initiated reparations frameworks.
Governance analyst Dr. Felix Odhiambo noted, “The standoff reveals a deeper institutional tension between the Executive’s quest for symbolic justice and the Judiciary’s insistence on procedural legality.”
As the matter heads back to court on October 21, the panel’s future hangs in the balance, emblematic of Kenya’s broader struggle to reconcile political initiative with constitutional order in the pursuit of justice for victims of state excesses.
