The United Opposition has dismissed President William Ruto’s decision to appoint Prof. Makau Mutua as the lead coordinator of a new state initiative to compensate victims of police brutality, calling the appointment unconstitutional and an affront to victims’ rights.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa during a press conference marking the third anniversary of the Kenya Kwanza administration, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP–K) boss Eugene Wamalwa accused the government of turning victims’ compensation into “political theatre.”
They claimed the move sidelines the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), which, under Article 59(1)(e) of the Constitution, is the body legally tasked with pursuing justice for victims of human rights abuses.
“A wolf cannot be trusted to judge matters in the cow pen. The perpetrator cannot dictate how its own victims are compensated,” Kalonzo remarked.
According to the opposition, the executive cannot be impartial in overseeing reparations for victims of state crackdowns on protests—violence they say claimed at least 197 lives between 2023 and 2025. They argued that only an independent institution like the KNCHR should lead such a process, free from influence by agencies implicated in the alleged abuses.
The leaders also pointed to a pending court case challenging Prof. Mutua’s role as Senior Presidential Advisor on Constitutional Affairs. They argued that assigning him this new responsibility “prejudges the court’s decision” and risks politicizing the entire compensation programme.
They further warned that placing the process under Prof. Mutua’s leadership would erode public trust and create a conflict of interest.
The opposition outlined three demands:
Suspend Prof. Mutua’s appointment until the court delivers its ruling on his advisory role.
Transfer the compensation programme to the KNCHR to ensure independence.
Disclose the legal framework behind the new compensation model.
“Victims of human rights violations in Kenya deserve justice, not political drama. The Constitution already shows the way forward, and we must adhere to it,” Wamalwa asserted.
The event also served as a political rallying point, with opposition leaders vowing to maintain unity and mobilize against the Kenya Kwanza administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
