A group of opposition leaders in Kenya has established an alternative justice tribunal in response to what they describe as state repression and the erosion of formal institutions.

Known as the People’s Restorative Justice Commission (PRJC), the new body is designed as a citizen-driven platform to document state abuses, amplify victims' voices, and demand accountability outside of the traditional legal framework.

Led by former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, the PRJC includes figures such as Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, Asha Bashir of the People’s Liberation Party, and governance scholar Prof Fred Ogola.

While it lacks formal legal authority, the commission draws its legitimacy from Article 1 of Kenya’s Constitution, which places sovereign power in the hands of the people.

At the launch, leaders cited the brutal death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody as a stark symbol of the current crisis.

"How do you expect justice from a regime that abducts a young man from Homa Bay, transports him to Nairobi, kills him, and then claims it was suicide?" asked DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa.

Critics of the government say the justice system has become increasingly politicized, with past commissions such as the TJRC and the Akiwumi Commission failing to deliver justice, as their findings were often ignored or misused.

The PRJC is not sanctioned by the state, nor does it have investigative or prosecutorial powers. However, organizers say it will collect evidence, record testimonies, and support private prosecutions where possible.

The commission’s launch was moderated by former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia and coincided with the first anniversary of the June 25 Gen Z-led protests a date that has come to symbolize resistance to authoritarianism in Kenya.

"This is more than protest. It’s a pivot toward parallel institutions creating new spaces for justice and historical memory where the state has failed," said one of the organizers.

Skeptics argue that the commission’s lack of legal authority limits its ability to deliver justice. However, proponents believe its symbolic power coupled with credible documentation could still influence public discourse and pressure institutions.

PRJC is expected to begin gathering testimonies in the coming weeks, with the aim of transforming citizen frustration into sustained civic engagement.

For opposition leaders, the message is clear: justice can no longer be entrusted to what they view as a captured state apparatus.

"The very existence of this commission reflects a crisis of confidence in our institutions," one founder said. "When courts, Parliament, and commissions are co-opted, the people must create new instruments of accountability."