Makau Mutua vows to serve with excellence after appointment as protest victims’ compensation coordinator
By Ascah Mwango, August 9, 2025Makau Mutua, President William Ruto’s advisor, has promised to serve with excellence following his appointment to head the government’s new framework to compensate victims of protests.
In a statement on his X account on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Mutua expressed his commitment to fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to him. He assured Kenyans that he and his team would work diligently and with the utmost dedication to honour the mandate given by the President.
Mutua emphasised his determination to ensure that the framework operates effectively and benefits the citizens it is designed to support, reinforcing a strong sense of accountability and pride in serving the nation.
“We won’t disappoint the country. We will make our fellow Kenyans proud by executing to the best of our ability the mandate given to us by His Excellency,” Mutua stated.
Mutua’s appointment comes after President Ruto announced the creation of a special initiative aimed at addressing the grievances of those injured or who lost loved ones during past protests marked by police brutality. The program, which will run for 120 days, is part of a broader effort to promote national healing and justice.
In a presidential proclamation, Ruto explained that the Executive Office of the President will oversee the program, working in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the National Treasury, and other relevant state agencies.
“The Executive Office of the President shall discharge this mandate in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the National Treasury, and other relevant State agencies. The tenure of this special coordination framework shall be 120 days from the date hereof, August 8, 2025,” the proclamation read.
Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Mutua described the move as bold, unprecedented, and transformational for Kenya’s human rights culture.
“Visionary leaders seize historic opportunities, as President Ruto has done. I have taught, written, fought for, lectured on, and practised the law of transitional justice for close to three decades, and I never thought such a pioneering action would occur in Kenya in my lifetime,” he stated.
Mutua also thanked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has been a strong advocate for this compensation plan and partnered with President Ruto on the initiative.
During the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, Raila welcomed the program as a key step towards national reconciliation.
“Two years ago, we were on the streets, and also last year, the Gen Zs were on the streets. During the prayer breakfast recently, apologies were being made, which is wonderful as a first step towards reconciliation. However, there are issues with people who were injured and who died during that time. I want to say we should compensate the families of those who were injured and died so that we can have closure to this chapter of our nation’s history. We want Kenyans to live in peace and unity,” Raila said at the time.