Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from her position as Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, citing the need to focus on her role in advancing justice through the LSK.
In a statement on Monday, Odhiambo said she had formally and immediately tendered her resignation to the Head of Public Service.
Odhiambo explained that while the Panel had been set up to overhaul Kenya’s existing legal and institutional framework on victim reparations, the court-ordered suspension of its operations had made it impossible to achieve its intended milestones within the limited timeframe.
She insisted that the 120-day mandate of the Panel had been interrupted by court proceedings.
“Unfortunately, it is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritize other avenues of responding to the plight of victims,” she said.
Odhiambo noted that the Panel’s creation had offered a unique opportunity to address longstanding gaps in compensating victims of police excesses and state overreach during public protests.
However, she added that the current circumstances required her to focus on her constitutional duties as LSK President to uphold the rule of law and defend victims’ rights.
“My resignation takes cognizance of the crucial point at which Kenya finds itself in the quest for full constitutional implementation and lasting reform,” she stated.
The LSK President reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to championing justice for victims of police brutality, noting that LSK lawyers are actively pursuing related cases in court.
“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,” she affirmed.
Odhiambo revealed that LSK advocates are already representing victims in various cases across the country, including a pending hearing in Kisumu.
She further outlined plans for the Law Society of Kenya to fill the policy and legislative gaps left by the stalled Panel, pledging to lead efforts aimed at establishing a victim-centered reparations framework that prioritizes dignity, fairness, and accountability.
Odhiambo also vowed to engage justice stakeholders and human rights institutions to push for reforms that will make Kenya’s justice system more responsive to victims’ needs.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she said.
She reiterated that the LSK will continue to champion the rule of law and human rights, adding that meaningful reparations for victims are essential to restoring their dignity and purpose.