Malala faults compensation model, insists victims demand justice too
By Joel Masibo, September 26, 2025The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader, Cleophas Malala, has described the government’s plan of compensating protest victims without serving them justice as baseless.
Malala spoke on Friday, September 26, 2025, during the DCP’s religious caucus convened at the DCP Headquarters to deliberate on a number of issues affecting the country.
In a statement, Malala said; ”Key unresolved issues ranging from extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, moribund health insurance system, a skewed school funding model and industrial strikes were among issues discussed. It was also noted that the government’s move to compensate families and victims of extrajudicial killings is welcome since the affected families need that support,” he noted.
Malala’s remarks followed Ekuru Aukot’s statement that compensating protest victims without justice was merely cosmetic.
The former UDA Secretary General said that as the state seeks to compensate the affected individuals and families of the recent anti-government protests, it will be meaningful if those violating human rights are also held accountable.
”However, compensation without justice and true repentance is help too little. The blood of those who died mysteriously and brutally in the hands of those who ought to have defended them is crying, and justice must involve unmasking the perpetrators of the heinous acts,” Malala reiterated.
Elsewhere, families in Emali demanded justice after a post-mortem revealed that protest victims died from gunshots.
The former Kakamega County Senator also weighed in on the proposal to tax religious institutions’ related activities. Malala added that DCP pledges to uphold, support and respect established institutions for stability, continuity and perpetuity, saying; ”Notable also was the bill currently in the senate seeking to introduce levies on churches for crusades, ‘Keshas’ and other activities related to the church.
The clergy continues to give support, spiritual nourishment, and guidance to millions of Kenyans and, therefore, should be accorded conducive grounds to operate in.
Makau Mutua defends victims’ compensation plan
Meanwhile, Cleophas Malala’s sentiments come at the moment when President William Ruto’s senior advisor on constitutional affairs and human rights, Professor Makau Mutua, has accused Kenya’s political class and sections of the legal fraternity of working to block justice for victims of protests and riots.
In a post shared on X, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, Mutua questioned why wealthy politicians and lawyers were fighting so hard to stop compensation, describing their actions as cynical and hypocritical.
“WHY would rich, wealthy, and powerful politicians and greedy lawyers fight so hard to deny victims of protests and riots compensation from the state? The cynicism, callousness, and hypocrisy of Kenya’s elites is truly galling. Shame on them!,” he posted.