President William Ruto has named his senior advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, Makau Mutua, to head a new government initiative aimed at compensating people affected by protests and riots across the country.
According to the President, Mutua will serve as the principal coordinator of a special framework designed to manage and oversee the compensation process.
The plan will run for 120 days from the date of its announcement, giving the team a fixed period to set up and execute the programme.
The coordination team will draw members from several key offices and government departments. These include the Office of the President, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, alongside other relevant state agencies.
The President stressed that this multi-agency approach is meant to ensure efficiency, transparency, and fairness in delivering justice to victims.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, in exercise of the authority vested in me, do hereby establish a coordinating framework for compensation of victims of protests and riots,” he declared in his official statement.
He added that the Office of the President will work closely with the Attorney General, the Interior Ministry, the National Treasury, and all relevant state agencies to ensure the plan is effectively implemented.
In his remarks, President Ruto underlined the importance of finding a balance between the public’s civic responsibilities and the freedoms guaranteed under Kenya’s Constitution.
He acknowledged that since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, Kenyans have enjoyed greater democratic space, which allows them to express their views through demonstrations and picketing.
However, he also pointed out that while peaceful protests are a legitimate constitutional right, some recent demonstrations have turned violent, leading to deaths, injuries, and destruction of property. This, he said, makes it necessary for the state to establish a clear system for accountability and justice.
“There is a compelling national interest in creating a framework that ensures accountability for victims of demonstrations, including civilians and security officers who lost their lives or suffered injuries during public protests,” President Ruto stated.
His decision follows a series of recent protests in the country that left several people dead or injured, among them police officers. The violence sparked calls from the public and political leaders for the government to compensate the victims and their families.
For months, the government had been criticised for its reluctance to take action, with prominent voices such as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga pushing for compensation.
In June this year, Raila demanded that all victims of last year’s youth-led anti-government protests and previous demonstrations receive justice and financial support.
During the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay, Raila also welcomed the public apology issued by President Ruto, in which he expressed sorrow and sympathy to Kenyans who lost loved ones or suffered injuries in last year’s protests.
Raila noted that while the apology was a good step, it should be followed by concrete action to address the suffering of the affected families.
President Ruto’s latest move appears to be a direct response to these calls, signalling a potential shift in how the government handles the aftermath of political unrest.
If implemented effectively, the 120-day framework could mark the first structured state-led effort to compensate both civilian and security force victims of protest-related violence in Kenya.
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