Uncertainty hangs on plans by the Kenyan government to compensate families of hundreds of people who were killed during the protests that rocked the country between 2017 and 2025.
However, according to various human rights organisations, between 2024 and July 2025, more than 150 people said tohave been killed during deadly protests that rocked the country.
The compensation plans were announced by President William Ruto then subsequent formation of a team that will come up with the criteria to be used to identify the victims.
The team is chaired by President Ruto’s senior advisor on constitutional affairs and human rights on Prof Makau Mutua while the deputy chair of the 18-member team that was appointed on July 26, 2025 is Law Society President Faith Odhiambo.
The taskforce was sworn in on September 4, 2025 and during the event it emerged that it might not be a walk in the park for the families to receive the compensation.
Odhiambo who turned down a government appointment sometime in the year said that if she will be frustrated during the process, she will quit immediately.
“My loyalty is to you, the people of Kenya, and my colleagues that I serve at the Law Society of Kenya. Should my efforts be frustrated or undermined in any manner whatsoever, I’m prepared to do the honourable thing in fidelity with the rule of law and the constitution of Kenya,” Odhiambo stated
Several experts have now expressed that from the vice chair’s remarks, the journey ahead on determining those to be compensated might not be easy.
“During the protests in 2024 and 2025, Faith proved that she is the face of human rights defenders and she ought to have rejected the offer or appointed someone to take the role,” observed Michael Mulama, a human rights activist
He added, “from her remarks, it tells you that she is afraid. Hundreds of Kenyans were killed during the protests between 2024 and 2025 thus it might require millions of shillings to compensate each families considering the fact that country is struggling, we might be told there is no money for the course,”
Andrew Misik an, advocate of the High Court in Kenya said such taskforce had been formed in Kenya before including promises to compensate thousands of 2007-08 post elections violence victims but they were left on their own.
“The best thing was allowing the country to slip toward that road, where hundreds of people were killed in two years, the plan to compensate the victims is promising but I’m afraid at it might be politicised,” explained Misik
June 24, 2024 entered into the history books of after Kenyans took to the streets to oppose what was termed as punitive Finance Bill, this was in relation to the country’s tax laws.
For the first time in Kenya angry youths commonly known as GenZ stormed the Kenyan parliament, one of the protected areas baying for the blood of Members of Parliament for voting in support of the controversial Bill.
In the aftermath Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that about 60 people were killed during the GenZ protests.
This was followed by the first anniversary of Gen-Z protests in commemoration of those who succumbed to police bullets outside the Kenyan parliament and other parts of the country on June 25, 2024 where 16 people were shot dead.
And during Saba-saba day (July 7, 2025) another ugly protest rocked the country resulting in more deaths and torching of some police stations and government installations.
While this was the first time to be witnessed, the government response to the protests is what drew sharp criticism.
Saba Saba Day in Kenya commemorates the July 7, 1990 protests where thousands of Kenyans took to the streets demanding democratic reforms and fair elections under the rule of President Daniel arap Moi.
