Makau Mutua to Faith Odhiambo critics: Only weak men attack women
By Mustafa Juma, September 9, 2025The chairperson of President William Ruto’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Protests, Makau Mutua, has taken on the critics of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo.
Odhiambo has been facing the wrath of a section of Kenyans after Ruto appointed her as vice-chairperson of the 15-member Panel of Experts tasked with fast-tracking the compensation of victims of public protests since 2017, with some of her critics arguing that accepting the appointment was a betrayal of Kenyans.
However, Mutua, in a strong-worded statement shared via his official X account on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, argued that only weak and insecure men attack women.
According to the Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs to President Ruto, attacks against women who are professionally successful and beyond reproach are unwarranted.
“Only WEAK and INSECURE men attack women, especially those who are professionally successful and beyond reproach,” Maku Mutua stated.
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He went ahead to call for an end to the attacks, expressing his disappointment that some of the attacks were coming from male lawyers.
The professor of law noted that the critics should leave Odhiambo alone and direct the attacks at him.
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“This misogyny against @FaithOdhiambo8 must stop. It’s juvenile and unbecoming, especially coming from male lawyers. Please attack me and leave her alone. Bure!” he stated.
Faith Odhiambo defended
Several leaders have also defended Odhiambo over her decision to accept Ruto’s appointment.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, while defending her, urged Kenyans to allow Odhiambo to serve victims of protests without undue harassment from critics.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 5, 2025, Oketch dismissed lawyers who have been attacking Odhiambo, arguing that many of them have never participated in meaningful activism or understood the sacrifices tied to national struggles.
“Most, if not all, the lawyers criticising LSK President @FaithOdhiambo8 have never gone to any protest that changed this country, never shared about any relatives that were killed during these protests, and never led even cattle-deep committees in their villages,” Oketch stated.
He emphasised that Odhiambo, alongside fellow panellist Irungu, embodies the integrity, courage, and independence required to steer the compensation process for victims of protests.
According to him, the diversity and complexity of such compensations demand leaders who are ready to take responsibility rather than engage in “elusive activism” on social media.