Ruto Reestablishes Panel of Experts on Protest Victims’ Compensation, Moves It to His Office
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President William Samoei Ruto has re-established a Panel of Experts tasked with facilitating compensation for victims of human rights violations during public protests and demonstrations, moving the panel’s operations to the Office of the President.
The move was formalised through Presidential Proclamation No. 1 of 2026, published in a gazette notice dated Friday, March 6, 2026.
“IT IS notified for the general information of the public, that His Excellency the President has established a Panel of Experts pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1 of 2026. The Panel shall discharge its mandate upon receipt by the President of the framework to be developed by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights for the provision of compensation and reparations to victims of violations of human rights, including those arising from demonstrations and public protests,” read the gazette notice.
The proclamation restructures the government’s approach to compensation following a directive by the High Court of Kenya sitting in Kerugoya, which ruled that the framework for compensating victims of human rights violations must be developed by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
New Framework by President Ruto for Reparations
In the proclamation, Ruto invoked Article 254(2) of the Constitution of Kenya to direct KNCHR to develop and submit a framework to guide compensation and reparations for victims of human rights violations, including those arising from demonstrations and public protests.
The commission has been given 60 days to prepare, publish, and publicise the report outlining the framework.
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The President acknowledged that while Kenyans enjoy the constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, and petition public authorities, some protests have resulted in violent incidents leading to loss of life and serious injuries.
He said the proposed compensation framework will cover both civilians and security personnel who suffered death or life-altering injuries during such incidents.
Role of the panel
According to the gazette notice, the re-established Panel of Experts will operate as an internal administrative mechanism within the Office of the President.
Its role will be to facilitate the implementation of the compensation framework once it is developed by KNCHR.
However, the proclamation states that the panel will not exercise supervisory authority over KNCHR, which remains an independent constitutional commission.
Instead, the panel will support the implementation process and ensure compensation is delivered in a transparent, accountable, and timely manner, while also maintaining proper records and submitting periodic reports to the President and relevant government authorities.
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Membership
The panel will be chaired by constitutional law scholar Professor Makau Mutua, who will serve as the Principal Co-ordinator.
Other members include Kennedy N. Ogeto, John Olukuru, Rev. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Linda Musumba, Duncan Ojwang’, Naini Lankas, Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Raphael Anampiu, John Maina, and Churchill Suba.
The technical team will be led by Richard Barno as Technical Lead and Duncan A. Okelo Ndeda as Co-Technical Lead.
The panel’s joint secretaries are Jerusah Mwaathime Michael, Raphael Ng’etich, Beatrice Wambui, and Daki Guyo.
The panel will serve for 90 days, unless its term is extended through another gazette notice.
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Prof. Makau Mutua shakes hands with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi. PHOTO/PCS
