Following her appointment as Vice-Chair of the Panel of Experts on Compensation for Demonstration, Public Protest, and Riot Victims—by President William Ruto—LSK President Faith Odhiambo has vowed to reform Kenya’s justice process to be swifter, more equitable, and firmly centred on victims.
Odhiambo recounted poignant interactions with families still waiting for justice—for instance, the tragic case of baby Pendo, who was killed during a nocturnal police operation in Kisumu, among many others whose cases have languished due to delays in the criminal justice system.
She emphasized: “True justice demands that as we pursue accountability, we remain attuned to the lived realities and needs of protest victims,” highlighting the profound human toll of postponed justice.
Since the unrest on June 18, 2024, Odhiambo has personally fielded countless messages from affected families, frequently during off-hours, demonstrating her commitment to responding to these deeply human appeals.
Under an August 2025 Gazette Notice, President Ruto mandates the panel—chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua with Odhiambo as Vice-Chair—to establish a framework to identify, verify, and assist victims in line with a presidential proclamation. The panel also includes representatives such as Kennedy Ogeto, Houston Irungu of Amnesty International Kenya, among others, supported by technical leads and secretaries.
Odhiambo outlined her key priorities: memorializing and publicly honoring victims; uncovering previously unreported cases; verifying existing reports; accelerating criminal prosecutions; facilitating civil suits on behalf of victims; and advocating for urgent legislative and policy reforms to standardize compensation processes.
She underscored the panel’s unique mandate: “This unprecedented structure allows a victim-led, accountability-centred approach toward truly holistic justice,” insisting that victims’ voices would guide the process—not politics or institutions—and pledging ongoing communication with affected families.
Odhiambo concluded with a powerful vow: “Kenyans must not be killed for exercising their rights on the streets ever again,” urging that the sacrifices made must not be in vain.
Guided by constitutional principles, moral imperative, and the memory of the victims, she reaffirmed her commitment to transforming the justice system to deliver timely, transparent, and effective recourse for those harmed.
