Editor's Review

"I suggest that my two learned brothers, Mr Musyoka and Mr Wamalwa, find a better argument to oppose our noble efforts to heal the nation."

President William Ruto’s Advisor Makau Mutua has slammed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa after they opposed the establishment of a framework to compensate victims of protests.

Addressing the media on Saturday, August 9, Wamalwa said they cannot trust a compensation process led by a presidential appointee

“The rules of natural justice demand impartiality. Victims cannot trust a process led by a presidential appointee whose loyalty is now to the state, the same state that was the aggressor of the Azimio protests 2023 in the Gen Z protests 2024 and the recent Saba Saba protests,” said Wamalwa.

Kalonzo pointed out that there is no current budgetary allocation for the compensation of victims of protests

“By the way, there is no budgetary allocation; you cannot, therefore, jump up and say you will pay Kenyans Ksh100,000 or Ksh 10,000,000,” he stated.

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File image of Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa. 

The two opposition leaders demanded that the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights (KNCHR) handle the compensation.

In response to Kalonzo and Wamalwa, Mutua stated that mechanisms to establish a compensation framework are well within the government's powers.

“I have seen a statement by my friends Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa claiming that the Government of Kenya cannot establish a compensation mechanism for victims of protests and riots.

“They couldn’t be more wrong. Transitional justice mechanisms are always done by governments,” said Mutua.

He urged Kalonzo and Wamalwa to either provide a stronger basis for their opposition or join what he described as a noble effort to heal the nation.

“I suggest that my two learned brothers, Mr Musyoka and Mr Wamalwa, find a better argument to oppose our noble efforts to heal the nation, or exercise their conscience and join us in the only viable path for responding to the victims, their families, and loved ones. Not everything must be subjected to cheap and toxic politics,” Mutua added.

On Friday, August 8, President William Ruto announced the establishment of a special framework to provide compensation to victims of demonstrations and protests since 2017.

The Head of State appointed Mutua as the Principal Coordinator of the State intervention. 

He further noted that the special coordination framework will operate for 120 days from the date of the proclamation.