Nairobi, Kenya – October 6, 2025 — Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from the government-appointed Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing the suspension of its mandate by the courts.
Odhiambo, who served as the vice chairperson of the 18-member panel, said her resignation was necessitated by the court order halting the implementation of the panel’s work, whose 120-day mandate she described as “time-sensitive and now effectively stalled.”
“The courts have stopped the panel’s time-sensitive mandate, and with the days running out, it is impossible to meet the milestones I undertook to achieve,” Odhiambo said in a statement released on Monday.
“Accordingly, I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts to the Head of Public Service.”
The LSK President explained that victims had continued to reach out in “total frustration” over delays in the panel’s operations, even as the court case remains unresolved. She said the stalemate had rendered the committee unable to deliver on its intended objectives within the set timeframe.
Despite stepping down, Odhiambo reaffirmed her commitment to championing victims’ rights through her position at the Law Society of Kenya, saying her dedication to the cause “remains impregnable.”
“I will continue to prosecute matters on behalf of victims of police excesses during demonstrations and to work towards safeguarding holistic justice for victims,” she stated.
Odhiambo emphasized that Kenya still faces a major policy and legal gap in addressing the plight of victims of police brutality, urging all justice sector players and human rights institutions to develop legislative proposals to fix systemic flaws in the reparations framework.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she asserted, calling for a shift from punitive justice to restorative, victim-centered justice.
Court Intervention
On September 8, the High Court in Kirinyaga issued conservatory orders temporarily halting the government’s framework for compensating victims of demonstrations and public protests.
Justice Magare Dennis Kizito barred the State Law Office, the Interior Ministry, and other government agencies from implementing Gazette Notice No. 12002 of August 23, 2025, which formalized the panel’s establishment. The court also suspended the enforcement of President William Ruto’s proclamation dated August 6, 2025, that had created the compensation framework.
The orders were issued following a petition by Levi Munteri, who challenged the legality of the panel and its processes. The matter is still pending before the court.
Background
President Ruto gazetted the Panel of Experts on August 25, 2025, tasking it with formulating a framework for reparations and compensation of victims of protests dating back to 2017. The initiative was part of the government’s broader effort to promote accountability, justice, and reconciliation following years of deadly confrontations between police and demonstrators.
With Odhiambo’s exit, uncertainty now looms over the future of the panel and the fate of hundreds of Kenyans who have been waiting for redress under the compensation plan.
Odhiambo concluded her statement by urging Kenyans to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and protecting constitutional institutions, saying this moment called for “unity and resolve” among all actors in the justice system.
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