Ruto sets aside Sh2bn compensation for protest victims

The victims to be compensated cut across six categories of violations, including the right to life (245 victims), sexual violence (75 victims), freedom from torture (135 victims), freedom and security of the person (473 victims), right to property (138 victims) and enforced disappearance (35 victims).

Speaking Monday during the launch of the framework for compensation and reparations to victims of human rights violations during protests and picketing, Dr Ruto said, it was a commitment born out of a shared conviction that Kenya could not continue travelling the same painful road, generation after generation, protest after protest, tragedy after tragedy.

The violations documented were arising from the 2017 and 2022 which were largely linked to disputes arising from the General Elections and also documents violations from the protests in 2023 and 2024, particularly during the Finance Bill and “Gen Z protests”, and 2025 during the Saba Saba demonstrations.

The verification process was guided by the “reasonable basis to believe” evidentiary standard, consistent with international human rights practice, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said.

“For far too long, whenever Kenyans have exercised these rights, too often the outcome has been violence, injury, loss of life, destruction of property, bitterness, and division. Families have buried loved ones. Young people have carried physical and emotional scars. Businesses have been destroyed. Police officers have been injured. Communities have been left traumatized,” President Ruto said.

While observing that there have been instances where the response to public demonstrations has resulted in excessive use of force, violations of rights, and loss of life, President Ruto said, whenever the cycle unfolds “Kenya loses” and “our democracy is diminished. Then, almost predictably, the blame game begins.”

In March 2026, Dr Ruto directed the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to develop and submit a framework for compensation and reparations to victims of human rights violations within 60 days. The move followed public pressure over deaths, injuries and rights violations linked to recent protests, but the framework's scope extends beyond demonstrations.

The KNCHR in its report said it had documented 1,815 claims and received 1,022 from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and others from the ministry of interior.

The report, KNCHR’s chairperson Claris Ogangah said, bears witness to the “stories of men, women and voiceless children who were injured, maimed or lost their lives while simply exercising rights guaranteed under our constitution.”

She was speaking during the handing of the report to President Ruto when he observed that it reflects the experiences of families whose lives have been shaped by violence, and of citizens who, with each successive Government, hoped for justice, dignity and reparations.

The report, she said, documents and identifies cases of violations that were widespread or systemic in nature.

While the commission acknowledged that not all cases reported qualify as gross human rights violations for reparations, it urged the adoption of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report which it observed documented cases of violations before the period it captured.

“The commission acknowledged that not all cases reported to us qualify as gross human rights violations for Reparations, as some were isolated criminal acts, including those committed by individual police officers and other citizens that should ideally go through the criminal justice processes,” KNCHR chairperson said.

Prof Makau Mutua, chairperson of the panel of experts on compensation of victims, said implementing the report “is a keeping of promise to look into the affairs of Kenyans who are afflicted.”

“The panel is now subjecting these names to verification. And will begin making compensation in a week’s time,” Prof Mutua said.

“This report is an acknowledgment that your suffering has been seen and that the state accepts its duty to repair,” he said, adding that it was a step towards atonement.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, who observed that his party and constituents had suffered the brunt of human right violations, said human rights violations had been there but no regime had been bold enough to tackle the matter.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah said beyond the compensation, the exercise should be viewed as more about restorative justice.

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