The government has disbursed Ksh.448 million to compensate 348 victims of protest-related violence, with hundreds more expected to receive payments in the coming days under the national compensation programme.
Prof. Makau Mutua, who chairs the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, said another 500 claimants are lined up for payment next week as the process gathers pace. Speaking during Citizen TV’s Sunday Live, Mutua noted that many beneficiaries have welcomed the initiative, saying it has offered them a sense of relief after years of waiting for justice.
He explained that the panel developed the compensation framework after consulting professionals from different fields, including law, medicine and economics, while also reviewing how similar cases have been handled in other countries.
“What we have done is apply a range of criteria by looking, first of all, at practices in other countries where compensation has been given. We, for example, looked at Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Bangladesh, and so on,” said Mutua.
The panel chair also addressed concerns from individuals who say they have neither received compensation nor any communication regarding their applications.
He clarified that affected persons must first identify themselves and formally submit their claims through the channels established by the panel before they can be considered.
“You see, the victims have to self-identify, and they have to go to places that have been designated. They can contact us through the various phone numbers and email addresses that have been provided,” said Mutua.
He added that claimants can also visit the panel’s office at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), noting that many victims had already submitted their claims through the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
“We have an office at the KICC, where they can come and lodge a claim. A lot of the victims have already lodged claims with KNCHR and IPOA,” he added.
The compensation programme is backed by a Ksh.2 billion government fund set aside for people who suffered human rights violations during demonstrations held between 2013 and 2025.
The initiative covers victims affected by various protests, including post-election unrest, the 2024 anti-tax demonstrations and subsequent protests in 2025.
Those eligible for compensation include families of people who lost their lives, survivors who sustained injuries or experienced sexual violence, as well as individuals who suffered financial losses during the demonstrations.
As the government continues processing additional claims, the programme is expected to provide long-awaited financial support to victims while recognising the impact of years of protest-related violence across the country.
