The President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Faith Odhiambo, has finally spoken after days of pressure from Kenyans who had demanded that she decline President William Ruto’s appointment to co-chair the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots.
During the panel’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Odhiambo gave an emotional and passionate speech where she strongly defended her decision.
She dismissed criticism that by taking up the role, she had abandoned or betrayed the people. Instead, she insisted that her decision was driven by her responsibility to uphold justice, protect the rule of law, and make sure victims of protests are heard and compensated fairly.
“As I take up this responsibility, let it be known that I have in no way betrayed your trust,” Odhiambo told Kenyans. “Access to criminal justice remains very important to me because it is at the center of promoting and protecting the rule of law, which is a key foundation for human rights and freedoms.”
She reassured Kenyans that she would not disappoint them, stressing that the deaths and injuries experienced during demonstrations should never be forgotten. She promised to remain accountable by updating Kenyans regularly on the panel’s progress.
Odhiambo admitted that the decision was bold but unpopular, adding that even some of her fellow lawyers had questioned her move. “Thousands of Kenyans have expressed their doubts about this appointment, but my focus remains firmly on the victims,” she said.
She also reflected on the pain suffered by families who lost loved ones during past protests, noting that parents who lost their children deserve justice that has been delayed for far too long.
Criticism of the Judiciary
Odhiambo used the moment to highlight a specific case involving Joseph Oloo Abanja and Lensa Achieng, whose infant daughter was killed during a midnight police raid in Nyalenda, Kisumu.
She openly criticized the judiciary for dragging its feet, pointing out that police officers accused of killing protesters often escape accountability.
She further referred to recent testimony by Corporal Fredrick Okapesi, who admitted in court that he had altered firearm records for officers deployed during the June 18, 2024, Gen Z protests in Nairobi.
According to Odhiambo, this was just one example of the deep-rooted failures in the justice system that allow perpetrators to go free.
In her view, Kenya’s current legal and institutional systems are not well-prepared to handle major crises, especially when it comes to addressing victims’ needs. She said most victims are left struggling in slow, prosecution-driven processes that are unreliable and insensitive.
A Victim-Centered Approach
“The Panel of Experts that I join today bears both the duty and opportunity to spearhead a revolutionary shift in victim reparations,” Odhiambo stated. “Never again should Kenyans lose their lives at the hands of trigger-happy officers simply for exercising their constitutional rights.”
She emphasized that the panel’s unique structure and mandate provide a chance to establish a new approach that is both victim-led and accountability-focused. According to her, this is the only way to achieve justice, push for reforms, and prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.
Odhiambo, who has herself been arrested and detained in police stations while defending the rights of arrested protesters, made it clear that her service would be for ordinary Kenyans and not for politicians.
“There is no Kenya that belongs exclusively to politicians and their children,” she said firmly. “We only have one nation, the Republic of Kenya. This process is about the victims and the ordinary mwananchi.”
Meanwhile, the 15-member panel will be chaired by President Ruto’s Constitutional Advisor, Professor Makau Mutua, with Faith Odhiambo serving as the vice-chairperson.
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