Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned as vice chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing prolonged legal challenges and operational delays that have crippled the panel’s work.
In a statement released on Monday, Odhiambo confirmed she had formally and immediately tendered her resignation to the Head of Public Service, saying it had become impossible for the panel to deliver on its mandate within the required timeframe.
“When the Head of Public Service published a Notice on August 25, 2025, confirming the establishment of the Panel of Experts, I was appointed as Vice Chairperson. The proposed mandate of the Panel presented an opportunity to overhaul the existing legal and institutional framework on victim reparations, which, as it stands, has proven inadequate,” Odhiambo said.
The 18-member panel, appointed through a presidential directive by President William Ruto, was tasked with facilitating compensation for victims of protests dating back to 2017. However, its operations were suspended in September 2025 after the High Court in Kerugoya issued conservatory orders halting the implementation of the reparations framework.
Justice Kizito Magare restrained the government and its agents from enforcing the president’s directive pending a full hearing of the petition challenging the framework’s legality.
Odhiambo said the court order and resulting delays made it unfeasible to achieve the panel’s goals within its 120-day mandate, which is nearing expiry. “While the clock runs down on the panel’s lifetime, victims continue to reach out to me in frustration. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to accomplish,” she explained.
She emphasized that her oath of office as LSK President compels her to uphold the integrity of Kenya’s legal institutions. “As resilient as the Law Society of Kenya has been in defending the rule of law, my oath of office demands that I do all it takes to preserve such resilience from any and all detractors,” she stated.
Despite her resignation, Odhiambo reaffirmed her commitment to justice for victims of police brutality and state overreach. “I will continue to take up and prosecute matters on behalf of victims of police excesses during demonstrations and work towards safeguarding holistic justice for victims,” she said, revealing that LSK advocates in Kisumu are already handling several protest-related cases.
She also called for urgent reforms to Kenya’s victim reparations framework, proposing a shift from a criminal liability approach to a victim-centred rehabilitation model. “We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she urged.
Under her leadership, the LSK plans to pursue initiatives including memorialising victims, publishing their identities, identifying unreported cases, and tracking court proceedings to ensure timely justice. She further disclosed plans to petition the Chief Justice for practice directions to fast-track hearings related to protest victims and to lobby Parliament to strengthen laws governing demonstrations.
Odhiambo’s appointment in August had stirred debate, with some Kenyans questioning whether her participation in a state-led reparations panel would compromise her independence as LSK President. At the time, she defended her decision, saying her acceptance did not betray public trust.
“As I take up this responsibility, let it be known that I have in no way betrayed your trust. Access to justice remains critical to me in our quest to uphold the rule of law,” she said during her swearing-in.
However, following the court suspension of the framework, Odhiambo’s exit now leaves the victims compensation panel in limbo, further complicating efforts to address grievances from families affected by years of police violence during protests.
Her departure underscores ongoing tensions between state-led justice initiatives and independent legal oversight, raising new questions about Kenya’s ability to deliver accountable, timely reparations to victims of human rights violations.
