NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has officially launched the first phase of a compensation programme for victims of human rights violations arising from demonstrations and public protests between 2013 and 2025, with Sh448.7 million set aside for 348 verified beneficiaries.
In a statement issued on June 23, the Uviano Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations said payments had commenced for eligible victims who had completed the verification process and provided consent to receive compensation.
The panel, chaired by constitutional scholar Prof. Makau Mutua, said the compensation exercise marks the beginning of a broader reparations programme that will continue until all eligible victims have been compensated.
“This is the first phase of the compensation programme and will be implemented on a continuous basis until every eligible victim has been compensated,” the panel said.
According to the breakdown released by the panel, families of 115 victims who lost their lives during the period under review will each receive Sh3 million, accounting for Sh345 million of the total payout.
Twenty-four victims classified as having suffered severe injuries will each receive Sh1 million, amounting to Sh24 million. A further 137 victims with moderate injuries will receive Sh500,000 each, translating to Sh68.5 million.
Sixty victims categorised under minor injuries will receive Sh50,000 each, while eight victims of aggravated sexual offences will receive Sh1 million each. Four individuals classified under economic loss will receive Sh50,000 each.
The panel said every claim approved for compensation underwent a comprehensive administrative process developed under reparations guidelines formulated by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The process included registration, verification, authentication, categorisation of harm, approval, and disbursement.
Officials said only victims who had consented to the compensation process were currently being paid and urged those who had not submitted claims or provided banking and payment details to do so without delay.
The panel pledged to provide regular public updates on the progress of the programme in line with principles of transparency and accountability. It also announced that the names of compensated victims would be published periodically in the Kenya Gazette, subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2019.
The compensation programme comes as Kenya prepares to mark the anniversary of the 2024 anti-government protests that left dozens dead, hundreds injured, and sparked widespread calls for accountability from human rights organisations, victims’ families, and civil society groups.
While the compensation initiative has been welcomed by some victims and rights advocates as a significant step toward restorative justice, questions remain over accountability for those responsible for the violations.
The panel maintained that the reparations programme is intended to acknowledge victims’ suffering, restore dignity, and provide redress for harm suffered during demonstrations and public protests over the past decade.
“To the victims, the long wait is over. Today, we begin to make right what was wrong,” the panel said. “Your courage in coming forward has made this day possible.”
