Faith Odhiambo Quits Protest Victims Compensation Panel in Blow to Ruto

Nairobi, Kenya — Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from her position as Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing the need to refocus on her constitutional mandate at the LSK amid growing political and institutional pressure.

In a statement released Monday, Odhiambo said she had formally tendered her resignation to the Head of Public Service, ending her short-lived tenure in the panel that had been tasked with developing a framework for compensating victims of state violence during public protests.

Odhiambo explained that the panel’s work had been hampered by a court order suspending its operations, rendering it impossible to deliver on its 120-day mandate.

“Unfortunately, it is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritize other avenues of responding to the plight of victims,” she said.

Her exit deals a major blow to President William Ruto’s administration, which had touted the panel as proof of its commitment to accountability following public outrage over police brutality during anti-government protests.

The resignation also comes amid sustained criticism from civil society and opposition leaders who accused the panel of being a state ploy to sanitize security agencies.

Odhiambo, however, defended her initial decision to join the panel, saying it had offered a rare opportunity to reform Kenya’s broken compensation mechanisms for victims of police excesses.

“The panel presented a unique chance to address longstanding gaps in compensating victims of state overreach. However, the prevailing circumstances demand that I devote my full attention to defending the rule of law and upholding victims’ rights through the Law Society,” she said.

She reaffirmed her commitment to championing justice for victims of police brutality, noting that LSK lawyers were actively pursuing several related cases in court, including one set for hearing in Kisumu.

“My commitment to agitate for the rights of victims remains impregnable. I will continue to take up and prosecute matters on behalf of victims of police excesses during demonstrations,” she added.

Odhiambo further announced that the LSK will spearhead efforts to establish a victim-centered reparations policy to replace the stalled panel process.

She vowed to engage human rights bodies, policymakers, and justice sector stakeholders in crafting a framework that prioritizes dignity, fairness, and accountability.

“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she emphasized.

Her resignation marks a significant setback for Ruto’s government, whose attempt to project reformist credentials through the panel has now suffered a credibility crisis following Odhiambo’s exit.