Mombasa Human Rights Defenders Welcome Compensation Framework for Protest Victims, Demand Transparency and Independence

Human rights defenders in Mombasa have cautiously welcomed the government’s initiative to compensate victims of demonstrations and public protests since 2017, as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The framework, announced by President William Ruto on August 8, 2025, aims to provide reparations for civilians and security personnel killed or injured during protests. However, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-Kenya Eugene Wamalwa are demanding transparency, accountability, and an independent body to oversee the process to ensure it is not politically motivated.

Harriet Mganda of HAKI Africa,  addressing the media , emphasized the need for swift and transparent action. “We welcome the step taken by the national government to compensate those who were killed or injured in demonstrations since 2017, as promised in the ODM-UDA MoU. However, this must not be a mere political move. The government must ensure compensation is delivered within the promised three months and conducted with utmost transparency,” Mganda stated.

The compensation framework, led by Professor Makau Mutua, Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, has a 120-day mandate to establish mechanisms for redress. The initiative stems from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, which recommended a fund for victims of the 2023 protests, a demand championed by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Raila confirmed on August 8, 2025, during a funeral in Homa Bay, that the framework would cover victims from 2017 onward, stating, “We are not just looking at 2024, or 2023, or 2022. We go back to 2017 up to date. The families are going to be compensated, and we are putting in place the necessary mechanisms to make that happen”.

Francis Auma, Rapid Response Officer at Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), called for broader justice measures, including dropping charges against those arrested during protests. “The government must drop charges against every Kenyan arrested during the demonstrations. If we are starting afresh, let’s ensure justice is served by releasing those who were abducted and finding those still missing,” Auma demanded. He highlighted the need for accountability, particularly for police officers responsible for brutality, echoing reports from Amnesty International Kenya, which documented 89 enforced disappearances during the 2024 anti-government protests.

Activist Wallid Sketty expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions, questioning whether the compensation framework is a genuine effort or a political maneuver. “Every Kenyan should be compensated, but the government must be deliberate and honest. They have a history of killing and compensating, which cannot continue. They must take responsibility for their actions,” Sketty said. He also criticized President Ruto’s past remarks suggesting that protesters should be shot in the leg, asserting, “The constitution protects every Kenyan’s right to demonstrate. The President must retract those words.”

Image: Eugene Wamalwa DAP, party leader and the Wiper party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka addressing the media in Mombasa.

Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Party and Eugene Wamalwa of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) raised concerns about the framework’s credibility, arguing that the executive’s involvement undermines its impartiality. “It’s difficult for a hyena to be a judge in a sheep’s case,” Wamalwa remarked, advocating for an independent organization to oversee the compensation process. Musyoka added, “The ODM-UDA MoU is a political arrangement. For fairness, an independent body must take charge to ensure Kenyans are served without bias.” Both leaders expressed suspicion that the initiative could be a strategy to bolster support for the Kenya Kwanza government ahead of the 2027 general election. Musyoka reassured Kenyans, stating, “I have no interest in joining this regime. My commitment is to ensure this government serves only one term.”

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, ODM’s deputy party leader, endorsed the framework, calling it “a defining moment in Kenya’s journey toward justice, accountability, and healing.” He emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “This initiative has the potential to provide long-overdue redress if implemented with openness and fairness”.

The compensation framework will operate under the Executive Office of the President, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior, and the National Treasury as from a posts on X.

Human rights defenders and opposition leaders alike are urging the government to ensure the process is transparent, swift, and free from political influence, while addressing broader issues of police brutality and abductions to restore public trust. As the 120-day timeline begins, all eyes are on the government to deliver justice to victims and their families.