Also known as: Prof Makau Mutua · Prof. Makau Mutua · Professor Makau Mutua · Prof. Mutua · Prof Mutua
Makau Mutua — chairs the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations, overseeing a Sh2 billion reparations framework for protest victims from 2013–2025.
… Makau Mutua said the reparation process has now moved into the compensation stage for eligible victims who have completed all required procedures and provided consent. …
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 23 – The government-backed compensation programme for victims of human rights violations has begun disbursing funds, with a panel chaired by constitutional scholar Makau Mutua announcing an initial payout of Sh448.7 million to 348 verified victims. …
… He spoke as Uwiano, the panel of experts on compensation for victims of human rights violations, including those from demonstrations and public protests, commenced the reparation process of eligible and verified victims.In a statement, Prof Makau Mutua, the chairperson and princi …
… Panel chairperson and principal coordinator Prof Makau Mutua said the process aims to restore dignity to victims and acknowledge harm linked to state response to protests. …
… As the Makau Mutua taskforce was buoying up Kenyans with thoughts of remorse over State-fronted extra-judicial killings and maiming of citizens, the same State was inflicting fresh offensives against the people’s liberty. …
… Makau Mutua to establish a framework for compensating victims of protests. The committee was tasked with facilitating compensation for victims of demonstrations and protests dating back to 2017. …
… ctims of protest-related violence will be identified, verified, and compensated under a structured government programme, with Sh2 billion already allocated in the 2025/2026 supplementary budget to support the process.Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Professor Makau Mutua …
… Makau Mutua, to process compensation claims linked to protests and police brutality dating back to 2017.The compensation process was initiated after years of complaints over police killings, enforced disappearances and torture. …
The government has commenced compensation for victims of human rights violations from demonstrations and public protests between 2013 and 2025, with 348 verified victims set to receive a total of Ksh448.7 million in the first phase. The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations said compensation is being issued only to victims who have consented to the process.
Why it matters
348 protest victims to receive Ksh448.7M compensation as government begins honouring accountability for 2013–2025 human rights violations.
The government has commenced compensation for victims of human rights violations from demonstrations and public protests between 2013 and 2025, with 348 verified victims set to receive a total of Ksh448.7 million in the first phase. The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations said compensation is being issued only to victims who have consented to the process.
A government-backed panel chaired by Makau Mutua has begun disbursing compensation to verified victims of human rights violations linked to protests between 2013 and 2025, with an initial payout of Sh448.7 million as the first phase of a Sh2 billion reparations framework. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights verified 1,101 cases of alleged violations including extra-judicial killings, torture, abductions, sexual violence and destruction of property.
David Koros, President of the Institute for Human Rights in Geneva, has called for a comprehensive national approach to address police brutality and torture, with compensation structured in phases beginning with 2007/2008 post-election violence victims, followed by cases from 2017 to 2024, and ongoing violations. He also urged accountability within security agencies and warned that lack of clear presidential commitment risks undermining public trust.
The government has begun compensating 348 verified victims of protest-related human rights violations with Sh448.7 million in the first phase, covering violations from 2013 to 2025. Payments include Sh3 million for families of those killed during demonstrations, Sh1 million for victims of severe injuries or sexual offences, and smaller amounts for moderate and minor injuries.
Barrack Muluka warns that recent state-sponsored attacks on journalists and protestors, including the invasion of All Saints Cathedral, mirror violent repression from the 1990s multiparty era and threaten to return Kenya to its darkest history.
A panel chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua has unveiled a compensation framework for victims of protest-related violence, detailing amounts eligible victims may receive. The panel has set aside Ksh.2 billion for compensation payments and published eligibility criteria and application guidelines ahead of the second anniversary of the June 25 protests.
Diana Gichengo, Director at The Institute for Social Accountability, has urged protest victims to pursue the justice system despite government financial compensation, arguing that the government has not clearly identified perpetrators of injustices. Gichengo also criticized the compensation structure and the presidential advisory panel as unconstitutional and non-inclusive, lacking victim representation.
Following a nationwide verification process, over 1,000 victims of human rights violations linked to protests across Kenya are set to begin receiving government compensation next week. The compensation programme covers victims of violent protests from post-election periods (2017, 2022) and recent demonstrations (2023–2025 Finance Bill and Saba Saba protests), with Sh2 billion allocated in the 2025/2026 supplementary budget.
The Coalition of Victims and Survivors Against State Violence has accused the government of delaying compensation for victims of protest-related abuses and has threatened mass demonstrations if compensation funds are not released by June 1. The coalition says the government has failed to honor its earlier commitment to compensate victims by June 2026.
Senator Godfrey Osotsi was assaulted by hooded youths in Kisumi; he alleged the attack was politically motivated. The incident has reignited concerns about a resurgence of politically sponsored criminal gangs, which historically have been used for electoral intimidation and were a major factor in the post-2007 election violence that killed about 1,500 people.