President William Ruto has announced the creation of a national compensation framework for victims of public protests held in Kenya since 2017. The initiative, which will run for 120 days, is aimed at delivering reparations to civilians and security personnel who suffered injuries or lost their lives during demonstrations and riots.

The framework was unveiled through a presidential proclamation issued on August 8, 2025, and will be overseen by the Executive Office of the President.

It will be implemented in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the National Treasury, and other relevant state agencies.

“I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces in exercise of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby establish a coordinating framework for compensation of victims of protests and riots, which shall be vested under the Executive Office of the President,” Ruto said in the proclamation dated August 6.

Ruto said there is a strong national interest in ensuring that those affected by past protests receive justice and redress.

“There is compelling national interest in establishing a framework for accountability, redress and reparations for victims of demonstrations and public protests,” he said.

The move comes as pressure mounts on the government to act following widespread criticism over the handling of recent protests. These demonstrations, while constitutionally protected, have in some cases turned violent, resulting in injuries and deaths. Ruto acknowledged this, noting the need to safeguard the right to protest while also ensuring public order.

Since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, Kenyans have enjoyed greater space to demonstrate and picket. But as Ruto pointed out, “some of these events have regrettably turned violent,” with serious consequences for both protesters and law enforcement.

He said the country must find a balance between protecting civil liberties and maintaining public safety.

To lead the implementation of the plan, Ruto has appointed Makau Mutua, his Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, as the Principal Coordinator of the State Intervention and Compensation Framework. The team has been given a 120-day period to carry out its assignment.

While the government has yet to disclose the specific compensation criteria or number of people to be covered, the decision marks a formal step toward institutionalising support for victims of protest violence.

The announcement follows earlier claims by ODM party leader Raila Odinga, who had said that the government was preparing to compensate victims of the anti-tax and anti-government demonstrations that took place in June and July 2024.

In a televised interview last month, Odinga stated that a compensation process was being prepared and would begin soon.

“On the issue of compensation… shortly, you're going to see what is going to happen; the compensation is going to start,” Odinga said.

He further claimed that the money would come from the Contingencies Fund, even though the 2025/26 national budget contains no allocation for protest-related reparations.

“There’s always the provision of contingencies in the budgets. The contingency fund is available. And I just want you to hold your horses. Shortly, there’s going to be compensation; it is going to start. And we now have a task force to deal with it,” he said.

The rollout of this framework signals a shift by the government to respond to rising demands for justice, and could set a new precedent in how the state handles protest-related grievances.\