Amnesty backs Irungu Houghton's appointment to protest victims’ compensation panel
The move comes as President William Ruto establishes the 15-member panel to operationalise a Presidential Proclamation aimed at creating a structured system to identify, verify, and support individuals affected by protest-related incidents.
Amnesty International Kenya has welcomed the appointment of Houston Irungu Houghton to the panel of experts tasked with managing compensation for victims of demonstrations, public protests and riots across the country.
The move comes as President William Ruto establishes the 15-member panel to operationalise a proclamation aimed at creating a structured system to identify, verify, and support individuals affected by protest-related incidents.
More To Read
- Ruto appoints Faith Odhiambo to co-chair panel of experts on compensation of protest victims
- Amnesty accuses Israel of intentionally starving Gaza population
- JSC rejects Nelson Havi’s petition to remove Justice Mabeya
- CJ Martha Koome defends Judiciary, warns against defiance of court orders
- LSK, Senior Counsel Bar reject plan to give President sole power over Senior Counsel appointments
- LSK suffers blow in bid to shield advocates from arrest, prosecution
In a statement, Amnesty International Kenya Board Chairperson Stellah Bosire pointed out that for years, the organisation has documented and demanded justice for victims of violent suppression by law enforcement, including during the 2017 and 2023 post-election periods, COVID-19 restrictions, the Masimba killings, and the recent Gen Z protests.
“Police abuses, often publicly encouraged and sanctioned by both the Police leadership and the Executive, have left deep scars. Only decisive action by the current administration will restore trust,” the rights body said.
Amnesty has now urged the panel to deliver a comprehensive reparations package, including substantial financial compensation, truth-telling, memorials, legal reforms, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
“Compensation must not replace criminal accountability. Citizens’ taxes should not shield criminals. Investigations must still be undertaken, and those suspected of having committed violations amounting to crimes must be prosecuted in fair trials,” the organisation added.
Houghton joins the panel in an advisory role in his personal capacity, while continuing his work at Amnesty International Kenya, advocating for justice, litigation, and holding perpetrators accountable.
The panel will be chaired by Professor Makau Mutua, with Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo Mony serving as vice-chairperson. Other members include Kennedy Ogeto, Dr John Olukuru, Rev Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Dr Duncan Ojwang’, Naini Lankas, Dr Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu.
The technical team is led by Richard Barno, assisted by Dr Duncan Okelo Ndeda, while Jerusah Mwaathime Michael and Dr Raphael Ng’etich will serve as joint secretaries.
The panel’s mandate includes designing a framework to verify and categorise victims, authenticating data from institutions such as IPOA, KNCHR, the National Police Service (NPS), and the Ministry of Health (MoH), and recommending appropriate reparations.
Where evidence allows, the panel may also propose prosecutions and accountability measures through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Families of victims, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, and other stakeholders will be engaged to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in the compensation process.
“In the discharge of its mandate, the panel shall have the power to access information and records from any State organ or public office subject to law, as well as require the attendance of any person or institution to provide information or documents,” the notice read.
The panel is expected to complete its work within one hundred and twenty (120) days, though this period may be extended if necessary.
Funding for the panel and the compensation process will be provided in line with the Public Finance Management Act and other applicable laws, using auditable channels.
The panel will maintain transparent accounting, preserve records for independent audits, and publish anonymised progress updates. The secretariat for the panel of experts will be located on the ground floor of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
Top Stories Today
