Nairobi, October 8, 2025 — The High Court has suspended the operations of a compensation panel appointed by President William Ruto to oversee reparations for victims of demonstrations and public protests, pending the determination of a constitutional petition challenging its legality.
The court, sitting in Kerugoya, issued conservatory orders halting the implementation of the presidential proclamation and Gazette Notice establishing the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. The order temporarily bars the panel from undertaking any activities or making decisions until the case is heard and determined.
The petition, filed by lawyer Levi Munyeri, questions the constitutionality of the panel, arguing that its establishment lacks a legal basis and duplicates existing institutions such as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
President Ruto had announced the creation of the panel on August 6, 2025, followed by a gazette notice dated August 25, tasking it with developing a compensation framework for individuals affected by protests dating back to 2017.
The 18-member team is chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, with Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo as vice-chair. However, Odhiambo resigned from the role in late September, citing concerns over the panel’s independence and constitutional grounding.
In his petition, Munyeri contends that the President acted beyond his powers, stating that such a reparations mechanism should be established through legislation or an independent commission approved by Parliament.
Civil society groups and sections of the legal fraternity have also voiced concern, warning that the panel could undermine accountability efforts for victims of police brutality during protests.
In response to the court order, the panel announced it had suspended its activities pending further directions from the judiciary.
If upheld, the court’s decision could have far-reaching implications for how the government structures future reparations or victim compensation mechanisms.
