NAIROBI, Kenya – Amnesty International Kenya has welcomed the appointment of Irũngũ Houghton to the Implementation Panel tasked with overseeing compensation for victims of protests from 2017 to 2025.
The panel, established by the government, aims to address the aftermath of violent crackdowns during demonstrations, including the post-election unrest of 2017 and 2023, COVID-19-related protests, the Masimba killings, and the recent Gen Z demonstrations.
In a statement, Amnesty International Kenya highlighted years of documenting police abuses, often allegedly sanctioned by both police leadership and the Executive, which have left deep social and psychological scars.
The organisation stressed that under international human rights law, compensation is a legal obligation, but must be accompanied by measures such as truth-telling, memorials, rehabilitation, legal reforms, and guarantees of non-repetition.
“Compensation must not replace criminal accountability. Citizens’ taxes should not shield criminals,” the human rights group said, urging the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to continue investigations and ensure fair prosecutions of those responsible.
Amnesty International Kenya acknowledges Irũngũ Houghton’s appointment to the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. Compensation for victims of protest violence must go hand-in-hand with justice.Irũngũ Houghton will be guided by
Irungu Houghton, who joins the panel in an advisory capacity, said the move is part of a broader effort to deliver fair, fast, and transparent reparations for families affected by years of violent protests.
He noted that over 300 peaceful protesters and bystanders have been killed or injured during demonstrations in the last eight years, leaving many families to bear medical, mortuary, and burial costs without justice.
“Reparation is not just about money. It is about acknowledging wrongdoing, helping families heal, and preventing recurrence,” Houghton said.
He added that any personal allowances he receives for his advisory role will be donated to a civic human rights organisation supporting victims.
Houghton emphasised that his participation on the panel will not interfere with his ongoing role at Amnesty International Kenya, where he continues to advocate for judicial redress and an end to extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.
Amnesty International called on the government to ensure a comprehensive reparations package and urged the public to closely monitor the process to safeguard the dignity and interests of victims and their families.
