Makau Mutua defends victims' compensation, says no price can replace human life

Prof Makau Mutua, chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations. (Photo: X/Makau Mutua)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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Prof Makau Mutua says compensation acknowledges victims' suffering rather than replacing lost lives, as the government advances legal reforms and prepares to gazette beneficiaries.

The chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations, Prof Makau Mutua, has said no amount of money can compensate for the loss of human life, but defended the ongoing compensation programme as a recognition of victims' suffering. He added that all beneficiaries would be gazetted as part of a transparent, state-led redress process.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mutua said a protest law and a police training manual were being developed to guide the handling of demonstrations and safeguard the right to peaceful assembly.

He was addressing ODM leader Oburu Oginga and party officials during an update on the progress of the compensation programme for victims of human rights violations linked to political protests and unrest.

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While acknowledging that compensation could never replace a lost life, Mutua said the payments were meant to recognise the suffering of victims and provide support to families who lost loved ones, many of whom were breadwinners.

"It is not possible to compensate for the loss of a human life because there is no amount of money that can buy a human life," he said.

The law professor also paid tribute to ODM members and supporters who lost their lives during the struggle for democracy, saying the government was, for the first time, formally acknowledging their pain and sacrifice.

"The government sees your pain," Mutua said, adding that no political party should be punished for fighting for democracy.

He further said Kenya must learn from its history by implementing legal and institutional reforms to prevent future human rights violations and strengthen relations between citizens and law enforcement agencies.

Mutua also praised President William Ruto for supporting the compensation initiative and accepting responsibility for past injustices, saying national healing requires acknowledgement of wrongdoing, accountability and reforms to prevent the recurrence of such abuses.