The 51st President of the Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, is currently facing an onslaught from various quarters after accepting her appointment as the vice chair of the Makau Mutua-led Presidential Panel on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots.

She had established herself as a human rights defender, something that endeared her to many Kenyans.

Faith rose to prominence during the Gen Z protests, where she was always at the forefront, securing the release of abducted or unlawfully arrested Kenyans. She tirelessly moved from one police station to another searching for missing persons, often reuniting them with their families.

Also watch how the former West Pokot Senator and ex-Information and Communication Minister, Samuel Poghisho, has rallied behind her.

These actions earned her immense credit from Kenyans, who came to rely on her during that turbulent period. Should a history of the Gen Z protests ever be written, Faith Odhiambo would surely have an entire chapter dedicated to her contribution during those difficult times when young people bore the brunt of state repression.

However, following her appointment, many Kenyans no longer view her the same way. They feel betrayed by her decision to work with a president whom they hold responsible for the deaths and brutalities meted out during the protests. To them, anyone siding with the president cannot be a genuine human rights advocate. Even the Law Society of Kenya has distanced itself from her.

Cost of accepting state role

The only way Faith can weather this storm, as some observers argue, would be to resign. However, resignation now seems unlikely since she has already taken the oath of office, and the committee is set to commence its work as mandated by the president. During the swearing-in at KICC, she defended her decision, emphasising her commitment to ensuring victim reparations and justice.

Now that she is part of the committee and given her prior engagements with victims of the protests, it is upon her to ensure that victims are adequately compensated. She must resist any attempts to compromise her long-standing principles and reputation.

Faith may, in fact, be right in accepting the appointment, since it could be seen as an extension of her continued pursuit of justice. Kenyans may be misjudging her, failing to see the broader picture. The ball is in her court: though the criticism may be loud now, it will eventually fade. Her vindication will depend on the outcomes of the panel’s work. It’s also up to her to disappoint Kenyans and stand on the right side of history in the future.

Fanya Mambo’s suggestion

Political activist and politician Fanya Mambo Kinuthia, her former classmate from law school, also weighed in. He advised that since she has chosen to work with the state, she must ensure that the government, particularly the president, walks in her footsteps.

According to Kinuthia, when two people associate closely, they often adopt each other’s mannerisms.

He expressed concern that Faith might instead adopt the government’s traits, warning her that it should be the other way round; she should influence the government to emulate her integrity and commitment to justice.

Ultimately, Faith must ensure that when history is written, her role in the panel is remembered not for betrayal but for ensuring that every victim received justice and rightful compensation despite the uproar surrounding her appointment.