Victims’ coalition demands inclusion of abduction, disappearance cases in state compensation plan

Youth engage the police along Jogoo Road, Nairobi, during Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025. (Photo: File/Justine Ondieki)

By Bashir Mbuthia
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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The group accused the compensation panel of leaving out victims of abductions, enforced disappearances and torture from the first phase of compensation, contrary to recommendations made by the KNCHR in April.

A coalition representing victims and survivors of state violence has demanded the inclusion of victims of abductions and enforced disappearances in an ongoing government-led compensation process, claiming that some of the country's most serious human rights violations have been left out of the initial framework.

The development comes a day after the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations announced the first phase of the said compensation programme covering 348 victims across six categories, with Sh448.7 million set for disbursement.

The beneficiaries include families of those killed during protests, victims who suffered severe, moderate and minor injuries, survivors of aggravated sexual violence and individuals who incurred economic losses. Victims of abductions, enforced disappearances and torture were not included in the framework, prompting criticism from the Coalition.

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Further, the Coalition argued that the panel's role was to implement, rather than alter, the recommendations made by KNHCR.

“We remind Makau Mutua and his panel that they do not possess the mandate to selectively implement the findings and recommendations of KNHCR,” the coalition said.

“Their obligation is to faithfully and fully implement the report and every recommendation contained therein. They cannot rewrite, dilute, suspend or discard any part of the report, not even a comma!”

The Coalition subsequently called for the immediate inclusion of victims of abductions and enforced disappearances in the compensation framework, full implementation of KNCHR recommendations, publication of the complete beneficiaries' list and greater involvement of victims and their families in the implementation process.

“Making the list public will allow victims, families, civil society, and the Kenyan public to scrutinise it, identify omissions, correct inaccuracies, and ensure that no genuine victim is left behind, while guarding against abuse of the compensation process,” it said.