President William Ruto has unveiled a new government framework aimed at compensating civilians and security personnel who were injured or lost their lives during demonstrations and public protests across the country since 2017.
In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday, Ruto said the initiative seeks to strike a balance between the constitutional right to peaceful protest and the need for civic responsibility, while acknowledging the often-painful toll of political unrest.
“The Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate and picket, but some protests have regrettably turned violent, resulting in bodily harm and loss of life,” the statement read.
The 120-day programme will be spearheaded by the Executive Office of the President in close coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the National Treasury, and other key state agencies.
To oversee the compensation initiative, President Ruto has appointed Prof. Makau Mutua, his Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, as the head of the programme. Prof. Mutua will serve as the principal coordinator, tasked with guiding the process and ensuring justice and redress for affected individuals.
The framework is expected to establish clear avenues for accountability, reparations, and redress — not only for civilians harmed during protests but also for police officers injured while on duty.
The move is seen as a fulfillment of one of the key commitments in the 10-point agenda agreed upon by President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga during their bipartisan dialogue to foster a more inclusive governance structure.
However, critical details remain under wraps, including the criteria for identifying eligible victims, the size and structure of compensation, and the source of funding for the plan.
The announcement comes amid renewed calls for justice for victims of past political turmoil, particularly from civil society groups and human rights advocates.
