The government has compensated more than 1,000 victims of protest-related deaths, injuries and economic losses, with the compensation panel saying it has disbursed approximately KSh1.2 billion from the KSh2 billion allocated for the exercise.
Speaking during a meeting with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on Thursday, panel chairperson Professor Makau Mutua said the process was intended to acknowledge the losses suffered by victims and mark the beginning of broader efforts to address the effects of protest-related violence.
Mutua thanked President William Ruto for establishing the panel, describing the initiative as a historic step towards government compensation for losses arising from the actions of state agencies.
He said the panel had also compensated police officers who died or sustained injuries while on duty.
“Much as money is not enough, this is the first step to tell the victims that we are sorry,” Mutua said.
The panel chairperson said the exercise was conducted with the support of IPOA, adding that further processes, including prosecutions, were ongoing. He also said the government was working towards enacting laws to regulate protests.
Mutua emphasised that the right to protest comes with responsibilities for both police officers and members of the public, arguing that democratic participation should not involve violence.
IPOA chairman Duncan Ojwang said the authority had been involved in investigating protest-related incidents and held about 90 per cent of the data on people injured during protests.
Ojwang said IPOA had collaborated with the compensation panel throughout the process and commended its work.
He added that the exercise was led by independent investigators who were trained to ensure the process was conducted without bias.
The panel said it was yet to publish the identities and individual compensation details of beneficiaries due to data privacy concerns, noting that disclosure could expose people who received substantial sums to security risks.
Mutua said the panel would instead publish information about the process without releasing sensitive personal details.
He expressed hope that IPOA would eventually become unnecessary, saying that would indicate progress towards a future in which police officers and citizens relate as partners rather than adversaries.
