Raila Reveals Plan to Compensate Police Brutality Victims from Protests

ODM leader says government task force will oversee compensation process funded through national budget contingency allocation

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga has announced that victims of police brutality during recent protests will soon receive compensation from the government, revealing that a dedicated task force has been established to manage the process.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Nation and NTV, the former Prime Minister disclosed that the compensation scheme will be funded through a contingency allocation in the national budget. The initiative comes after widespread criticism of police conduct during the 2023 opposition-led demonstrations and the 2024 Gen Z protests, which resulted in multiple casualties.

“There is a contingency fund in the national budget. Compensation is going to happen soon and we have a task force handling it,” Odinga stated, acknowledging that many lives were lost during the protests that rocked the country.

The ODM leader strongly condemned what he described as excessive use of force by police officers, particularly criticizing President William Ruto’s recent directive instructing officers to “shoot protesters in the legs.” Odinga characterized this instruction as “lawlessness,” emphasizing that police should arrest rather than kill demonstrators.

The compensation plan appears to be linked to the 10-point agreement that ODM submitted during negotiations with the government under the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) process. Odinga emphasized that securing justice for victims was a critical component of these negotiations.

“We did not compromise; we acted for peace. But we must also honour those who paid the ultimate price by ensuring justice and restitution,” he said.

The ODM leader also criticized the government’s broader response to peaceful demonstrations, noting that authorities had blocked attempts to hold memorials for slain protesters through court orders. “We eventually honoured them quietly,” he revealed.

Human rights organizations and families of victims have long demanded state accountability and reparations for those killed or injured during protests. The newly formed task force will be responsible for assessing all compensation claims and determining appropriate compensation mechanisms.

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between the opposition and the government over protest rights and police conduct. Odinga’s revelation suggests a potential breakthrough in addressing one of the most contentious issues arising from Kenya’s recent wave of demonstrations.

The full interview with Raila Odinga is scheduled to air on NTV on Sunday at 9pm, with additional coverage available in the Daily Nation.

*The government has not yet provided details about the composition of the task force or the timeline for beginning compensation payments.*