Attorney General nominee Dorcas Oduor has emphasized that compensation for protest victims is an essential tool and highlighted the urgent need to operationalize the Victim Protection Act and the Victim Protection Board.
Oduor was vetted by Parliament on Friday, August 9. If approved, she will assume office at a time when the public is advocating for compensation for individuals shot, injured, or killed during recent demonstrations.
Dorcas Oduor response
When asked how she would advise the government on compensation, Oduor stated that the Attorney General must serve as the custodian of the people’s rights.
“As the custodian of people’s rights, the Attorney General is also expected to uphold the rights of those who have been injured and to address complaints from victims. I am aware that there is a Victim Compensation Act legislated by this August House. There is an initiative to operationalize the Victim Compensation Board, which is under the Office of the Attorney General. As a prosecutor, compensation for victims is a very important tool in the fight against corruption. Many complainants who lose property or are injured by government officials deserve compensation,” she stated.
“I think the Victim Compensation Act and the compensation board that fall under the Office of the Attorney General need to be operationalized so that we can establish the parameters for compensation, and that will be a priority.”
Victim Protection Board
The Victim Protection Board was established by Section 31 of the Victim Protection Act, 2014. This Act was enacted to give effect to Article 50 (9) of the Constitution, providing for the protection of victims of crime, reparation, compensation, special protection for vulnerable victims, and the development of mechanisms for disseminating information and providing victim support services.
The Act defines a victim as a person who suffers injury, loss, or damage as a result of an offence, although it does not cover victims of historical injustices.
