President William Ruto appointed Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango as the new Vice-Chairperson of the Panel of Experts handling compensation for victims of demonstrations.
Ogangah-Onyango, Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), takes over from Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, whose appointment has been revoked.
The changes, effective November 4, 2025, were announced in a Gazette notice issued by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that, pursuant to Gazette Notice No. 12002 of 2025, His Excellency the President has appointed Clarisse Awuor Ogangah-Onyango as the Vice-Chairperson of the Panel of Experts with effect from November 4, 2025. The appointment of the Vice-Chairperson vide Gazette Notice No. 12002 of August 25, 2025, is revoked,” the notice reads in part.
The panel is responsible for reviewing claims from citizens affected by public protests, assessing damages, and recommending fair compensation.
It was formed in August 2025 following widespread anti-government demonstrations that left several people dead, injured, and property destroyed.
The panel’s mandate is to ensure that victims of protests receive timely redress and that grievances are addressed through transparent and lawful processes.
Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango is a distinguished Human Rights Specialist, Advocate of the High Court, and Development Leader.
She is the current chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The panel is chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua.
Other members are Kennedy Ogeto, Irungu Houghton, Dr. John Olukuru, Rev. Fr. Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Dr. Linda Musumba, Dr. Duncan Ojwang’, Naini Lankas, Dr. Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Raphael Anampiu and John Maina.
Others are Richard Barno, Dr. Duncan Okelo Ndeda and Churchill Suba.
Jerusah Mwaathime, Dr Raphael Ngétich and Daki Guyo, are Joint Secretaries.
In her resignation Odhiambo cited stalled progress and court challenges.
According to Odhiambo, the time-bound mandate of the Panel had been stopped by the Courts, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel was likely to lapse before the matter got resolved and settled.
“As resilient as the resolve of the Law Society of Kenya has been in upholding the rule of law throughout Kenya’s history, especially in the last two years, my oath of office demands that I do all it takes to preserve such resilience from any and all adversaries and detractors,” she said.
“Accordingly, I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests to the Head of Public Service.”
She said that while the clock runs down on the Panel’s lifetime, victims continued to reach out to her in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the Panel will be honoured.
The panel’s operations were temporarily suspended by the High Court (Kerugoya) via conservatory orders on September 8, 2025, pending hearing of a challenge to its constitutionality.
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