NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairperson Macharia Njeru has urged Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo and Amnesty International Kenya executive director Irungu Houghton to decline their appointments to a new government panel tasked with compensating victims of police brutality.
In a statement on X, Njeru said that while he fully supported compensation for victims of violent demonstrations, Odhiambo and Houghton risked undermining their credibility by joining the 18-member committee unveiled by President William Ruto.
“It is impossible to work with this government and come out untainted,” said Njeru. “Let them continue playing the role of holding the government to account, which they have done so well thus far.”
While I fully support compensation of all victims of Police brutality ,I completely disagree with Faith Odhiambo and Irungu Houghton both of whom are very credible,joining the Committee. It is impossible to work with this Government and come out untainted.Let them continue
His remarks come a day after President Ruto, through a gazette notice, named the expanded panel chaired by his constitutional affairs adviser, Prof. Makau Mutua. Odhiambo was appointed vice-chairperson.
The team, whose membership includes civil society leaders, clergy, and policy experts, is mandated to oversee compensation of victims of protests dating back to 2017.
It will design a framework to identify and verify victims, recommend compensation, and propose reforms to address policing culture, accountability, and the handling of demonstrations.
Ruto said the initiative seeks to provide redress for lives lost, injuries sustained, and property destroyed during years of often-violent political unrest.
The panel also includes Kennedy N. Ogeto, John Olukuru, Rev. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Linda Musumba, Duncan Ojwang’, Naini Lankas, Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu.
Richard Barno will serve as technical lead, assisted by Duncan A. Okelo Ndeda, while Jerusah Mwaathime Michael and Raphael Ng’etich will act as joint secretaries.
The committee builds on an earlier five-member framework team formed on August 8 by Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, which was mandated to draft the initial guidelines for compensation.
While rights groups have cautiously welcomed the initiative as a possible step toward accountability, critics remain skeptical.
The 18-member body is expected to issue periodic reports to the President with recommendations on compensation and broader institutional reforms.
