Activist Hussein Khalid backs Ruto’s move to compensate protest victims
Human rights activist Hussein Khalid has backed President William Ruto following a recent move by Ruto to compensate victims of protests, calling it a move in the right direction.
On his part, Khalid has said that Ruto’s move to compensate victims of the protests aligns with his plan alongside other human rights activists, while also adding that this is what they have been longing for all along.
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Likewise, the Human Rights activist who made his remarks just moments after Ruto made the announcement on Friday, August 8, 2025, on his official X account has also revealed that alongside his colleagues, they had developed a key five-point plan towards ensuring justice to all affected during the 2017 to 2025 protest in Kenya.
“This is one of the 5 steps we’ve been calling for to ensure justice for victims. So, we support this move. Let’s also see the other four steps taken,” Khalid wrote.
Similarly, Khalid has stated that among his key plans towards finding justice for affected victims was first acknowledging that those killed during protests were not criminals.
In addition, he also noted that the government should present a proper apology to the affected families for the senseless killings, which he admits has been handled in Ruto’s recent compensation plan.
On the other hand, Khalid stated that initially he wanted the state to arrest all killer cops and ensure they are charged for murder, further adding that the government should also reform the police department to ensure such killings never occur again.
“They are: 1. Acknowledgement that those killed were not treasonous criminals or terrorists 2. Apology from the state for the senseless killings 3. Arrest of all killer cops and ensuring they are charged for murder 4. Police reforms to ensure such killings never recur,” Khalid said.
Ruto’s compensation to the victims of the protest
President William Samoei Ruto announced the establishment of a national framework to coordinate compensation for victims of demonstrations and public protests held since 2017.
The initiative, unveiled through a presidential proclamation issued on August 8, 2025, will provide compensation to civilians and security personnel who suffered bodily harm or lost their lives during protests and riots.
“I, William Smoei Ruto, President and Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, in exercise of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby establish a coordinating framework for compensation of victims of protests and riots, which shall be vested under the Executive Office of the President,” Ruto said in the statement.
