Makau Mutua, has come to the strong defense of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo after calls for her resignation from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots.

Mutua, who chairs the panel, took to X on Friday declaring: “I saw one nondescript lawyer asking @FaithOdhiambo8 to resign from the Panel of Experts on Compensation. What has he done for any victim? Bure Kabisa! Leave the Vice Chair alone. She’s serving the people.”

The remarks have stirred debate as the 18-member panel, unveiled on August 25 by President William Ruto, and sworn in begins its delicate mandate of drafting proposals on reparations for victims of state violence since 2017.

Muturi Dismisses Panel as a “Cover-Up”

Mutua’s defense came just hours after former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi tore into the panel, dismissing it as “a political cover-up disguised as benevolence.”

In a strongly worded statement on X, Muturi questioned the legality and independence of the body. “The panel is not anchored in law, has no constitutional authority, and lacks a funding framework. It is, therefore, not just inadequate. It is a deliberate distraction from the real path to justice,” he said.

Drawing parallels to past inquiries such as the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) and the Waki Commission, Muturi argued that even legally backed institutions had failed to deliver justice. He questioned how a panel handpicked by the presidency could succeed where others collapsed, insisting that the executive cannot investigate its own alleged role in protest-related violence.

Justice

The panel’s launch at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Thursday, September 2025, was described by Mutua as a “historic, unprecedented, and bold step.” Odhiambo echoed his optimism, terming the initiative “overdue” and promising to prioritise victims’ voices.

Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights have documented more than 180 protest-related deaths since 2017, including 63 during the 2024 Gen Z protests and 38 this year alone. Families at the KICC event demanded transparency, while lawyer Gitobu Imanyara branded the initiative a diversion from international scrutiny.

Muturi went further, faulting Odhiambo and other panellists for “laundering impunity.” He stressed that only judicial independence, parliamentary oversight, and prosecution of perpetrators can restore public trust.