NAIROBI, Kenya – A storm has erupted within Kenya’s legal and political circles following the resignation of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, with Senator Samson Cherargei terming her move a “cowardly act.”
The Nandi senator, known for his outspoken criticism of perceived weakness in public institutions, said he was “embarrassed and disappointed” by Odhiambo’s decision, claiming that leaders of her stature should withstand public pressure.
“As a member of the Law Society of Kenya, I am embarrassed and disappointed by the resignation of LSK President because of online bullying,” Cherargei said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s unfortunate that our society is nowadays led by cowards who fear to make hard and painful decisions in their leadership for the benefit of our country and rule of law. What happened to the era when Willy Mutunga was LSK President? Bure kapisa!”
His remarks came hours after Odhiambo tendered her resignation as Vice-Chairperson of the Panel, citing stalled progress and persistent attacks on social media that she said had undermined her ability to deliver on time-bound objectives.
In her statement, Odhiambo said the panel’s work, meant to design a framework for compensating victims of police excesses during protests, had been halted by pending court cases.
She expressed concern that the panel’s 120-day mandate could lapse before achieving meaningful reforms.
“It is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritize other avenues of responding to the plight of victims through the Law Society of Kenya,” she said, adding that her commitment to victims’ rights “remains impregnable.”
As a member of Law society of kenya (LSK) i am embarrassed & disappointed by the resignation of LSK President because of online bullying. It’s unfortunate that our society is nowadays led by cowards who fear to make hard & painful decisions in their leadership for the benefit of
However, Senator Cherargei argued that Odhiambo’s withdrawal sends the wrong message at a critical time when Kenya is grappling with questions of police accountability and rule of law.
“Leadership is about courage, not comfort,” the senator added. “If the President of LSK can bow to online pressure, what hope do ordinary Kenyans have when standing up for justice?”
Legal analysts are divided on the senator’s criticism. Some note that Odhiambo’s resignation underscores the deep frustration within reform panels bogged down by bureaucracy and litigation, while others say public ridicule from leaders could deter future reform champions.
Political commentator Dr. Philip Nyaga told The Kenya Times that the episode highlights a broader “culture of toxicity in public discourse.”
“Public servants and advocates are now under intense social media scrutiny. The tone of online engagement often discourages independent thought and moral courage,” Nyaga said.
Odhiambo’s resignation marks a turning point for the panel, which was gazetted on August 25, 2025, to review compensation policies for victims of police brutality.
The team was expected to recommend legislative reforms and guidelines for reparations.
As the debate rages, both supporters and critics agree that the incident exposes the fragile balance between leadership, public opinion, and accountability in Kenya’s justice sector.
