Willis Otieno blasts Cherargei over Faith Odhiambo’s resignation from Ruto’s Victims Compensation Panel
Lawyer and politician Willis Otieno has criticised Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei over his comments following the resignation of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo from President William Ruto’s victims compensation panel.
In a hard-hitting statement on his X account on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Otieno accused the senator of focusing on Odhiambo’s personal decision instead of the real issues facing victims of police brutality and state violence.
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Otieno said the victims needed action and accountability, not endless debate about who sits on the panel. He questioned why the outrage seemed to be directed at Odhiambo’s resignation rather than at those responsible for the deaths and injuries suffered during protests.
“Just be embarrassed quietly; nobody applied for your emotional commentary. Faith’s resignation doesn’t stall justice, compensation, or accountability. The victims don’t need her name on a committee; they need a system that actually acts. The real tragedy isn’t Faith’s resignation, it’s that people like you are more outraged by her choice than by the atrocities that forced it,” Otieno stated.
Adding;
“What happens to those who pulled the triggers, signed the orders, and watched children die? Or do your lectures on “courage” only apply when it’s politically convenient?”
His remarks come after Cherargei publicly criticised Odhiambo, saying her decision to step down was a sign of weak leadership. The senator expressed disappointment that she resigned due to online bullying, claiming that Kenya’s leaders today were afraid to make tough decisions for the good of the country.
He compared her to Willy Mutunga, saying previous leaders were more courageous.
“As a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), I am embarrassed & disappointed by the resignation of LSK President because of online bullying. It’s unfortunate that our society is nowadays led by cowards who fear making hard & painful decisions in their leadership for the benefit of our country & rule of law. What happened to the era when Willy Mutunga was the LSK President? Bure kapisa!!!!” Cherargei scoffed.
Odhiambo’s resignation
Faith Odhiambo resigned as vice chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. She announced her decision in a statement on Monday, October 6, 2025, citing challenges that had hindered the panel’s work, including ongoing court cases that had suspended its operations.
Odhiambo explained that the panel had been given a 120-day mandate but had been unable to function for much of that period because of the court suspension. She said this made it impossible to achieve meaningful results within the remaining time.
Watch: LSK president Faith Odhiambo resigns from victims’ compensation panel
Appointed to the position on August 25, 2025, Odhiambo said she had initially believed the panel would help bring real change in how victims of police violence and state overreach were treated in Kenya. However, she said the current circumstances had made it difficult to deliver on that promise.
She added that her resignation was also guided by her responsibility as LSK President to protect the independence of the society and uphold the rule of law. Odhiambo said her oath of office required her to focus on strengthening institutions that promote justice and unity in the country.
