Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), has resigned from her position as Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests.

The panel was tasked with reviewing the legal and institutional framework for compensating victims of police excesses during public protests.

It was established by a Gazette notice issued by the Head of Public Service on August 25, 2025. Professor Makau Mutua chaired the panel, with Odhiambo serving as vice-chairperson.

Other members included civil society leaders, human rights advocates, and legal experts. The panel was expected to operate for 120 days, verify eligible victims, and propose mechanisms for compensation, reparations, or accountability.

Before her resignation, Faith Odhiambo had clarified her role in Ruto’s protest victims panel.

In her resignation statement, on Monday, October 6, 2025, Odhiambo said she stepped down because the panel’s work had been blocked by the courts, making it unlikely to meet its mandate within the set timeframe.

“I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests to the Head of Public Service,” she stated.

“My resignation from the Panel takes cognizance of the crucial point at which Kenya finds itself in the quest for full constitutional implementation and lasting reform to our democratic context. This consequential moment for our country calls for all our rule of law institutions, especially the Law Society of Kenya, to remain unified and resolute in discharging the mandate bestowed upon us by law.”

“As things stand, the time-bound mandate of the Panel has been stopped by our Courts, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved and settled.”

She highlighted that victims continued to contact her in frustration over delays in accessing the panel.

“It is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve,” she said, adding that she would prioritise other avenues to address the plight of victims, particularly through her leadership of the Law Society of Kenya.

Odhiambo commits to justice

Odhiambo praised the panel members for their contributions to human rights and the rule of law. She said her commitment to defending victims remained firm and that she would continue to take up and prosecute cases on behalf of those affected by police excesses.

She noted that a team of LSK advocates in Kisumu was already in court handling one such matter arising from the 2023 demonstrations against the rising cost of living. She said the society would engage the judiciary to expedite proceedings and conclude cases as soon as possible.

The LSK president also pointed out gaps in Kenya’s victim reparations framework. She said the society would work with justice stakeholders and human rights institutions to develop legislative proposals that create a more efficient, victim-centred approach. Odhiambo emphasised that reparations must be treated with the same urgency as holding perpetrators accountable.

She listed several key priorities she would continue to pursue outside the panel: memorialising victims and publishing their identities, identifying unreported cases, proposing fast-track court directions for cases involving police excesses, and petitioning Parliament to review laws on demonstrations and provide mechanisms for compensation.

Also watch: Makau Mutua criticises betrayal of protest victims

Panel faces legal hurdles

The resignation follows a series of setbacks for the panel. Earlier, on September 11, 2025 human rights advocate Irungu Houghton suspended his role on the panel after a High Court order halted its operations.

“For the avoidance of any public doubt, I immediately suspended my participation in the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Demonstrations in accordance with Monday’s order by the High Court and my respect for the rule of law, constitution and judicial oversight,” Houghton stated.

Critics, including former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, argued that existing laws, particularly the 2014 Victims Protection Act, already offered a legal basis for compensation and questioned the need for new structures.

The panel had faced delays despite strong backing from human rights groups and families of victims, who viewed it as a key step towards justice and national healing. Professor Makau Mutua, chairperson of the panel, accused political elites and parts of the legal fraternity of obstructing the compensation process.

In public statements, he criticised wealthy and powerful individuals for resisting the initiative, calling their actions cynical and hypocritical.

Despite the challenges, Odhiambo said she remained committed to pursuing justice for victims. She urged stakeholders to focus on alternative approaches to deliver meaningful outcomes, ensuring that victims are rehabilitated and restored to a life of dignity.