Govt Statement on Appointment of Panel for Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests

WHEREAS, by dint of a Presidential Proclamation issued on the 6th August, 2025, the Head of State and Government, acting in furtherance of the State’s constitutional mandate to promote national healing and cohesion, established a Framework for the Repruation and Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations, Public Protests, and Riots;

WHEREAS, the Proclamation reaffirms the dual responsibility of the State and its citizens to uphold the delicate balance between civic duty and the exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution;

WHEREAS, Kenya is a signatory to all major continental and international human rights treaties, conventions, and instruments that uphold the rights to freedom of association and assembly; and

WHEREAS, it is acknowledged that in the exercise of these rights, particularly the right to assemble, demonstrate, protest, and petition public authorities, as guaranteed under Article 37 of the Constitution, there have been regrettable incidents of violence resulting in loss of life and life-altering physical injuries to both civilians and security personnel;

NOW THEREFORE, it is notified for the general information of the Public, that His Excellency the President has appointed a Panel of Experts to effect the implementation of the Proclamation.

The Panel of Experts shall be constituted as follows:

• Principal Co-ordinator/Chairperson: Makau Mutua (Prof.)
• Vice-Chairperson: Faith Odhiambo Mony

Members:

• Kennedy N. Ogeto
• Irungu Houghton
• John Olukuru (Dr.)
• Rev. (Fr.) Kennedy Barasa Simiyu
• Linda Musumba (Dr.)
• Duncan Ojwang’ (Dr.)
• Naini Lankas
• Francis Muraya (Dr.)
• Juliet Chepkemei
• Pius Metto
• Fatuma Kinsi Abas
• Raphael Anampiu

• Technical Lead: Richard Barno
• Co-Technical Lead: Duncan A. Okelo Ndeda (Dr.)

Joint Secretaries:

• Jerusah Mwaathime Michael
• Raphael Ng’etich (Dr.)

II. Terms of Reference of the Panel shall be to:

(a) design and establish an operational framework to verify, categorise, and compensate eligible victims;

(b) engage with relevant stakeholders, including families of victims, State institutions mandated to address human rights issues, civil society organisations, and religious institutions to ensure inclusivity and fairness in the compensation process;

(c) authenticate data on eligible Victims from authoritative sources including IPOA, KNCHR, the National Police Service, the Ministry of Health, and civil society;

(d) investigate, report on, and recommend prosecutions, prosecutions or other appropriate accountability measures to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and other relevant oversight bodies;

(e) propose legislative and institutional reforms to address systemic and cultural policy failures; and

(f) prepare and submit to the President Periodic progress reports and a Final Report.

III. In the discharge of its mandate, the Panel shall have the power to—

(a) access information and records from any State organ or public office subject to law;

(b) require the attendance of any person or institution to provide information or documents;

(c) constitute working groups;

(d) co-opt technical experts, consultants, and technical resource persons;

(e) regulate its own procedure, including quorum and decision-making; and

(f) perform any other function ancillary to this mandate.

IV. The term of the Panel shall be for a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date hereof, or for such other period as may be specified in the Kenya Gazette.

V. Funding and Financial Accountability—

(a) Funding for the Panel and the compensation scheme shall be provided in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act and any other applicable law, utilising auditable payment channels; and

(b) The Panel shall ensure transparent accounting, maintain records sufficient for an independent audit, and publish anonymised statistics and progress updates.

VI. A Bureau for the Secretariat of the Panel of Experts shall be located on the Ground Floor of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Its official mailing is P.O. Box 30510–00100, G.P.O., Nairobi.

Dated the 25th August, 2025.

FELIX K. KOSKEI Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service.