The Law Society of Kenya President, Faith Odhiambo, has pledged to put victims of protests and riots at the center of justice and compensation processes, insisting that accountability for perpetrators must go hand in hand with recognition of victims’ lived realities.
Speaking during the swearing-in of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots, Odhiambo emphasized that Kenya stands at a critical juncture in redefining how the state treats its most vulnerable citizens. She noted that the justice system has historically failed to prioritize victims, leaving families in endless cycles of grief and hopelessness.
“Holistic justice requires that as we seek accountability from perpetrators, we remain alive to the needs of victims and the difficulty of their lived realities,” she said.
“We have an opportunity to revolutionize how the state treats, deals with and responds to victims. With unwavering fidelity to the rule of law, I undertake to guard this opportunity fearlessly and ensure no interests other than those of our most vulnerable are served,” she added.
Odhiambo outlined her commitment to ensuring that justice for victims is not only pursued through the courts but also embedded in national policy and public consciousness. She stressed that the victims’ voices must not be silenced, urging that reparations and legal reforms must be undertaken transparently and urgently.
She further reaffirmed her resolve to remain steadfast in this mission, declaring that the sacrifices made by victims and their families must not be in vain. She vowed to resist any attempts to derail the process, stressing that her loyalty remains with the people of Kenya and the spirit of the Constitution.
According to th LSK President , the existing legal and institutional frameworks are ill-equipped to deal with historic crises, arguing that victims are often subjected to prosecution-led processes that are slow, unreliable and insensitive to their needs.
“The Panel of Experts that I join today bears both the duty and opportunity to spearhead a revolutionary shift in victim reparations,” she said.
“Never again shall Kenyans be killed by trigger-happy officers for exercising their constitutional rights.”
Her remarks come at a time when public pressure on state agencies has intensified, with growing calls for accountability over repeated cases of excessive force and rights violations during protests.
The 15-member panel will be chaired by his Constitutional Advisor, Professor Makau Mutua, with Odhiambo serving as vice-chairperson.
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