Makau Mutua lauds Ruto’s compensation of protest victims
Prof. Makau Mutua has commended President William Ruto for launching a 120-day process to identify and compensate victims of bloody protests, calling it a “bold and historic step” towards achieving transitional justice in Kenya.
Speaking on Monday, August 18 2025, during an ODM–Kenya Kwanza parliamentary talks held in Karen, Mutua noted that the move marks a significant milestone in addressing the grievances of Kenyans affected by police brutality and civil unrest.
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“The President established a 120-day process to identify and compensate victims of protests. I want to say and compliment the President that this is a bold step and it is a historic step in our country in the area of transitional justice,” Makuu noted.
Makau further noted that the compensation of victims plan by Ruto is the best place to start, while further revealing that the compensation is tangible, it is time-bound, and it is intended to unify our country,” he said.
“We think that compensation of victims is the best place to start because compensation is tangible, it is time-bound, and it is intended to unify our country,” Makau said.
Teams in charge of the panel
On his part, Mutua revealed that the national panel will be constituted to oversee the process, adding that the panel will feature representatives from the Law Society of Kenya, civil society organisations, youth groups, and women leaders, ensuring it reflects the full face of the country.
“The panels that we seek to create will have faces of Kenyans that all of you will be able to recognise and to see that they represent the face of the country,” he said.
Further adding that, “We will have Law Society of Kenya, various organisations, civil society, from youths and from Women leaders.”
Makau has also noted that the panel will approve the compensation framework, establish the eligibility criteria and the schedules to be followed and perform acts related to compensation.
KNCHR demands compensation
Meanwhile, his remarks follow the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) demands over the compensation of victims of protests and demonstrations, demanding that they should receive more than just monetary compensation.
The commission is urging the special committee appointed by President William Ruto to review the cases on a broader reparation basis to ensure accountability and justice are upheld.
The call came as the commission unveiled a report on the right to defend rights, highlighting the state of human rights defence in the country over the past two years.
