Ruto Establishes a New Advisory Group Focused on Managing Compensation for Protest Victims
Kenya's President William Ruto Announces Reparations Framework for Protest Victims
President William Ruto has taken a significant step towards addressing past grievances by announcing a 120-day reparations framework for victims of protests and riots in Kenya. The framework, established by a presidential proclamation issued in August 2025, aims to compensate both civilians and security personnel who were injured or lost their lives during protests from January 2017 to July 31, 2025.
The executive office of the President will oversee the implementation of this framework, working in collaboration with government agencies such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and the National Treasury. Prof. Makau Mutua, Ruto's Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, has been appointed as the Principal Coordinator to manage the compensation process.
The scope of the compensation plan includes individuals affected by protests and riots, encompassing both victims from the civilian population and injured or deceased security personnel. The government justifies this allocation of funds under Article 223 of the Constitution, citing a national interest in accountability, redress, and reparations for those harmed during the unrest.
While the initiative is a pioneering effort in Africa, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) urges an expansion beyond monetary compensation. They advocate for acknowledgments, memorialization, and justice mechanisms to fully address victims' rights.
Recent protests since June 2024 have led to deaths and injuries among civilians, prompting calls for urgent action from the government. Criticism has been directed towards Ruto's administration for a perceived lack of urgency in compensating victims and supporting families affected by last year's protests.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has urged the government to provide closure for those families, echoing Ruto's apology at the National Prayer Breakfast. Odinga believes more should be done for closure, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to healing and moving forward.
The team, based at the Executive Office of the President, will serve for a duration of 120 days, starting from today. For updates on related news, follow the Standard channel on WhatsApp.
[1] Constitution of Kenya 2010 [2] The Star, "Ruto's Government to Compensate Protest Victims," September 1, 2025. [3] Daily Nation, "Ruto Announces Reparations Framework for Protest Victims," September 1, 2025. [4] BBC Africa, "Kenya's Reparations Framework for Protest Victims," September 1, 2025. [5] Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, "Statement on Reparations for Protest Victims," August 31, 2025.
- The announcement of a 120-day reparations framework for victims of protests in Kenya by President William Ruto is a notable step in the realm of policy-and-legislation, addressing a significant issue in general-news and business sectors, as it involves allocating funds for victim compensation following unrest.
- As Kenya's President William Ruto takes steps to address past grievances, the ongoing discourse in politics includes the implementation of the reparations framework, with ODM leader Raila Odinga advocating for a comprehensive approach to heal and move forward, emphasizing the importance of this issue in the general-news and policy-and-legislation spheres.
