NAIROBI, Kenya – The Police Reforms Working Group-Kenya (PRWG-Kenya) has welcomed a High Court ruling suspending the operations of a government-appointed panel tasked with compensating victims of demonstrations and public protests.
The Kerugoya High Court on Monday issued conservatory orders halting the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, which was set up by the government earlier this year.
In a statement, PRWG-Kenya described the ruling as a “decisive victory for the rule of law and constitutionalism,” saying the panel was unconstitutional and politically motivated.
“The diversion of public resources to fund an unconstitutional entity is unlawful and contrary to the principles of public finance,” the lobby group said, arguing that the panel was designed to shield state agencies, particularly the police, from accountability for rights violations during protests.
@ReformsGroup Press statement welcoming the court ruling temporarily suspending the operations of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. Kenya does not need a parallel, illegitimate body created outside the constitutional framework
The coalition, which brings together more than a dozen human rights and governance organizations, maintains that Kenya already has institutions empowered to investigate abuses and recommend reparations, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
PRWG-Kenya is demanding accountability for what it terms “atrocities” committed during recent protests, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture.
The group has also called on KNCHR to launch an independent inquiry into alleged widespread violations and recommend reforms.
The working group further urged the government to activate the Victims Protection Fund under the Victim Protection Act, 2014, saying resources earmarked for the disputed panel should instead be redirected to lawful compensation mechanisms for victims and survivors of state violence.
PRWG-Kenya is an alliance of national and grassroots organizations advocating for rights-based policing.
Its membership includes the Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU), Defenders Coalition, Katiba Institute, HAKI Africa, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), among others.
