Lawyer Paul Muite has waded into the development of the government rolling out a framework to compensate the victims of police brutality and riots in the country, expressing his support for the plan.

Taking to his X page moments after President William Ruto announced the establishment of a special framework to compensate victims of demonstrations and public protests since 2017 on Friday, August 8, 2025, the lawyer hailed the timing of the procedure as timely.

According to the framework, the government will address incidents dating back to 2017, covering both members of the public and security personnel harmed during protests. The Executive Office of the President will coordinate the process in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the National Treasury, and other relevant state agencies.

“I support this proclamation by the president setting up a committee to look into the modalities of compensating victims of police brutality,” he stated.

While admitting the challenges that might arise as a result of the new directive, Muite has defended the mechanism as a viable path to addressing the issue that has remained unsolved for years.

Legal challenges

“Despite legal challenges facing the proclamation, I believe it is a pragmatic way of addressing this urgent compensation issue,” he noted.

His sentiments come as the Kenyan political class continues to offer divergent opinions over the compensation procedure

In a statement on Friday, August 8, 2025, newly installed government adviser Makau Mutua lauded the development as a “bold, unprecedented, and historic” step for Kenya’s human rights culture.

The renowned lawyer further expressed his gratitude to the President for appointing him to head the newly formed framework, noting that the initiative marks a transformative moment in the country’s approach to transitional justice.

“I take this opportunity to unreservedly thank President William Ruto for establishing a framework for the compensation of victims of protests and riots and for appointing me to head it. This bold, unprecedented, and historic action by President Ruto is transformational for Kenya’s human rights culture,” Prof Mutua said.

Mutua, who has spent nearly three decades teaching, writing, and advocating on matters of transitional justice, admitted he never imagined such a milestone could be achieved in Kenya within his lifetime.

“I have taught, written, fought for, lectured on, and practised the law of transitional justice for close to three decades, and I never thought such a pioneering action would occur in Kenya in my lifetime,” he said.