A High Court in Kirinyaga has extended conservatory orders halting the operations of President William Ruto's Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, dealing another blow to the initiative just hours after its vice chairperson resigned.
The Judge in the ruling on Monday, October 6, extended the interim orders until October 21, 2025, when the matter will be heard at 10 a.m.
The court directed petitioners to file their submissions within three days, while respondents were given seven days to file their responses.
The judge emphasized the need for timely service of documents, particularly requesting that a preliminary objection be served on all parties in good time to avoid delays on the hearing date.
“May I request Mr. Ochiel, who has a preliminary objection, to make sure that they served in good time on everyone, so that we do not stall on the date for hearing,” he noted.
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The court's decision came just hours after Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo resigned from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, where she had been serving as the vice chairperson.
In a statement released on Monday, Odhiambo noted that her decision comes at a critical juncture when Kenya seeks constitutional implementation and lasting peace in its democratic context.
Citing the courts' halting of the committee's mandate, she explained that the courts had stopped the time-sensitive mandate of the Panel, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved and settled.
"Accordingly, I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests to the Head of Public Service," Odhiambo stated.
Odhiambo expressed frustration over the Panel's inability to function effectively due to court intervention, noting that while the clock runs down on the Panel's lifetime, victims continue to reach out in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the Panel will be honoured.
"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 assured.
On September 8, a high court in Kirinyaga temporarily blocked the implementation of the government's framework for compensating victims of demonstrations and public protests.
Justice Magare Dennis Kizito issued conservatory orders following an application by Levi Munteri challenging various government agencies, including the State Law Office and the Cabinet Secretary of the Interior.
The court stayed the commencement of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, pending the hearing of the main application.
Additionally, the court ordered the suspension of further implementation of Gazette Notice 12002 of August 23, 2025, which had appointed the panel to establish a framework for reparations and compensation.
President William Ruto gazetted the panel of 18 experts headed by lawyer Makau Mutua on August 25, 2025, to facilitate compensation of victims of demonstrations and protests dating back to 2017.
