The government has disbursed Sh448 million to victims of protest-related violence, with Prof Makau Mutua stating that compensation is intended to offer relief and dignity rather than replace lost lives.
Speaking during a Sunday night interview, Mutua said the compensation programme is part of a broader effort to acknowledge suffering and support affected families.
He emphasized that while financial payments cannot equate to the value of human life, they serve as a symbolic gesture of responsibility and remorse.
“Compensation is one aspect of what we are doing to give economic meaning and to give some relief to families and also to dignify them,” Mutua said.
“We cannot compensate for a life, but what we can do is to say that we are sorry and, in that process, provide some token ex gratia payment to the victims.”
According to Mutua, the government has so far processed 348 claims under the first phase of the programme. The payments, totaling Sh448 million, have been issued to verified victims and families affected by protest-related incidents.
The compensation framework covers incidents that occurred between 2013 and 2025, but Mutua clarified that eligibility is strictly limited to cases linked to protests or riots.
Claims that fall outside these parameters are excluded from consideration.
“We are covering the period from 2013 to 2025, but there are some qualifying events,” he explained. “The claim that is made must be connected to a protest or a riot. If it does not fall within those events, it does not qualify.”
He also outlined the evidentiary requirements for applicants, noting that claimants must provide credible documentation to support their cases.
In instances involving fatalities, families are required to submit official records such as post-mortem reports or death certificates.
“In terms of proof, if, for example, you met a fatality, you were killed in a protest, we would require a post-mortem report, a death certificate, or other evidence to convince us that, in fact, that happened,” Mutua stated.
The compensation initiative has emerged amid ongoing debate over accountability and justice for victims of state-linked violence during demonstrations.
While the payments aim to provide immediate relief, questions remain over parallel efforts to address responsibility for abuses.
Mutua maintained that the programme is a necessary step in acknowledging harm and supporting affected families, even as broader justice mechanisms continue to be discussed.