The future of President William Ruto’s Presidential Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests hangs in the balance after the High Court ordered a halt to its operations.
The panel, chaired by constitutional lawyer Prof. Makau Mutua, has now filed an application at the High Court in Kerugoya seeking to set aside the conservatory orders. In its submission, the team argues that the orders were obtained through concealment of facts and warned that prolonged delays could undermine its 120-day mandate, effectively rendering its work meaningless.
The suspension has also stirred mixed reactions from within the panel itself. Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has revealed that she is consulting widely about her role, stressing that her professional independence remains intact. “I do not work for the government or the opposition,” Odhiambo asserted, amid concerns about her impartiality in the politically sensitive exercise.
In a parallel development, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton announced his suspension from the panel, citing respect for the High Court ruling. Houghton said his decision was guided by principle, underscoring the importance of adhering to judicial authority even when it disrupts government-backed initiatives.
The panel was constituted by President Ruto to oversee the identification and compensation of victims of past protests and demonstrations, a move initially welcomed as a step toward reconciliation. However, the legal challenge, coupled with internal uncertainties among its members, has left the initiative stalled and its future in doubt.
