NAIROBI, Kenya – Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned as Vice Chairperson of President William Ruto’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing concerns over time constraints, stalled operations, and a duty to protect the independence of the legal fraternity.
Odhiambo, who was appointed to the panel earlier this year, said her decision was guided by her oath of office and the need to safeguard the integrity of LSK’s mandate in defending the rule of law.
“My oath of office demands that I do all it takes to preserve such resilience from any and all adversaries and detractors,” she said in a statement on Monday. “Accordingly, I have handed in my formal and immediate resignation to the Head of Public Service.”
The panel—comprising eminent Kenyans in law and human rights—was tasked with recommending a framework to compensate victims of police excesses during public demonstrations.
It was also expected to overhaul Kenya’s outdated legal and institutional structures on victim reparations.
However, Odhiambo noted that the panel’s 120-day mandate had been halted by court orders, making it impossible to meet its targets before expiry.
“While the clock runs down on the Panel’s lifetime, victims continue to reach out in frustration over when their requests for an audience will be honoured,” she said. “It is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to deliver, and I must prioritise other avenues of responding to the plight of victims through the leadership of the LSK.”
Earlier today, I tendered my resignation from the position of the Vice Chairperson of the @compensationke. I will continue to agitate for Justice for all Victims, and pursue all key deliverables I had set out to attain.
Odhiambo emphasised that her commitment to justice for victims of police brutality remains unchanged, pledging to continue pursuing their cases through legal channels.
She revealed that LSK advocates were in Kisumu Court this week for hearings related to victims of police excesses during the 2023 anti–cost of living protests.
“LSK will be moving the courts and seeking the intervention of the Judiciary’s leadership to expedite proceedings and conclude them as soon as practicable,” she said.
The LSK president also announced plans to collaborate with justice and human rights institutions to draft legislative proposals addressing gaps in Kenya’s victim reparations framework.
“We must urgently transform Kenya’s approach from a protracted process of apportioning criminal liability to an efficient, victim-centred model that restores victims to a life of dignity and purpose,” she said.
