Ruto to compensate police brutality victims next month

By Newsflash Writer

The government will, starting next month, begin compensating victims of police brutality in what is being described as one of the most decisive state responses to human rights violations in recent years.

President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Prof Makau Mutua, who is spearheading the initiative, said he is working against time to establish a compensation committee to process claims promptly.

In a politically significant gesture, Ruto appointed Makau – a close ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga – to lead the programme. The appointment is widely seen as a nod to Raila, who has long made victim compensation a central part of his political campaigns.

The committee, expected to have fewer than 10 members, will be formed next week and start work immediately. “This is not something that should take us a century,” Makau said, signalling urgency in addressing the long-standing grievances of victims’ families, civil society groups and human rights defenders.

Victims across regions to benefit

Historically, regions such as Nyanza, Western, Nairobi and parts of the Coast bore the brunt of police crackdowns during the 2017 and 2023 opposition-led protests. However, the recent Gen Z-led demonstrations shifted the epicentre of violence to Central Kenya, where security forces were accused of excessive force that left dozens dead and many injured.

Makau assured that the team will reflect Kenya’s diversity and will cover families of those killed, as well as survivors with life-altering injuries. The plan also includes police officers who died or were injured during unrest.

President Ruto said the initiative will consider victims from 2017 to date. Makau emphasised that compensation will be disbursed as soon as each claim is verified, without waiting for all claims to be processed. “I think within a month or so, the first victims can expect compensation,” he said.

Data-driven, monitored process

The programme will draw on data from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the National Police Service and civil society groups. Makau said the verification process will involve statisticians, doctors, law enforcement officers and civil society representatives.

The committee will determine payment amounts based on international human rights standards while factoring in Kenya’s economic realities. The framework is expected in the coming weeks and is viewed as a key test of the government’s commitment to justice and accountability.

Once formed, the committee will conduct consultations across counties, focusing on victims of fatal and serious injuries. It has 120 days from the August 6 proclamation date to complete its work, supported by the Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Interior, National Treasury and other agencies.

Makau has defended the initiative, accusing some political leaders of hypocrisy and “playing cruel politics” with citizens’ suffering. He also stressed that the effort marks the first tangible step towards confronting decades of excessive force and impunity.