Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from her position as vice chairperson of a taskforce on compensation of victims of State excesses, citing stalled progress, court challenges and a need to protect the body from “detractors.”
In a statement released Monday, she said her resignation from her position on the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests was effective immediately.
She explained that given that the panel’s 120-day tenure was halted by a court order, it was "not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve”.
“While the clock runs down on the panel’s lifetime, victims continue to reach out to me in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the panel will be honoured,” she said.
“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 added.
Her resignation comes after several weeks of public debate and institutional friction surrounding her appointment. When Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced the formation of the panel on August 25, 2025, the inclusion of the LSK president triggered a governance storm.
The panel of Experts to oversee compensation for victims of protests pose for a group photo during their swearing-in ceremony at KICC on September 4, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
A section of the LSK Council objected to her acceptance of the role, arguing that it compromised the Society’s independence and blurred the line between the bar and the Executive.
The government had positioned the panel as a step toward accountability for police excesses during recent demonstrations, but critics saw it as an attempt to co-opt independent voices.
At the time, Ms Odhiambo defended her participation, saying the panel presented a “unique opportunity to overhaul the legal and institutional framework on victim reparations.”
However, the LSK later resolved that its president’s continued service in a government-appointed body was “inconsistent with the independence of the institution.”
The controversy escalated when civil society groups challenged the establishment of the panel in court, arguing that it lacked a legal basis and that its creation by the Executive contravened the constitutional independence of bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa). The High Court subsequently suspended the panel’s operations, effectively freezing its 120-day mandate.
Protests Victims Compensation Panel Chairperson Prof Makau Mutua (left), member Irungu Houghton and Vice Chair Faith Odhiambo.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
In her statement, Ms Odhiambo acknowledged that the legal hurdle had rendered the panel’s work impossible. She said she would now channel her efforts through the LSK’s existing frameworks for litigation and advocacy on behalf of victims.
“My commitment to agitate for the rights of victims remains impregnable. I will continue to take up and prosecute matters on behalf of victims of police excesses during demonstrations, and work towards safeguarding holistic justice for victims,” she said.
