Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots, the panel that President William Ruto formed to oversee payments to victims of protests since 2017.
The 16-member team, announced earlier, was to be led by the President’s adviser Prof. Makau Mutua, with Odhiambo named vice chairperson. Her appointment immediately sparked public debate and sharp criticism from some civil society figures and activists who said her membership could hurt public confidence in the process.
“Accordingly, I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests to the Head of Public Service,” Odhiambo said in a statement on Monday.
On Tuesday, August 26, the Atheists in Kenya Society urged Odhiambo to decline the role, saying her reputation for defending the rule of law and human rights could be damaged by joining the panel. The society’s statement warned that one wrong move could undo years of hard work to build a solid public reputation.
Prominent lawyer Miguna Miguna also criticised her participation, saying she should back an independent judicial inquiry and push for accountability instead of joining the panel. Lawyer Levi Munyeri called the appointments a possible public relations stunt and warned that Odhiambo and others risked becoming pawns in political manoeuvres. Commentator Chris Sambu said the move looked like an attempt to neutralise outspoken civil society voices by bringing them onto the committee.
Odhiambo had defended accepting the role when the panel was sworn in on September 4, saying she did not betray public trust and that her work on the panel would serve the people of Kenya. She said she intended to protect victims and their dependants and to ensure access to justice while keeping Kenyans updated on developments.
Her resignation comes amid those public concerns and sustained criticism from some lawyers and civil society figures. The President’s office and the Law Society of Kenya have not yet issued detailed public statements about the resignation. Investigations, discussions and reactions are expected to continue as stakeholders debate the best way to compensate victims and preserve public trust in the process.
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