President William Ruto announced on Monday that Kenya would compensate nearly 2,000 people who were victims of human rights abuses during protests, one of the few such initiatives carried out outside the judicial system.
In recent years, protest movements that have shaken the country have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, in addition to significant economic losses. The deadliest were the mobilizations against the tax increases of June 2024 and June 2025, which caused dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries, and the destruction of property valued at millions of dollars. The most recent incidents, linked to protests against a quarantine center for American citizens infected with Ebola, resulted in three deaths and dozens of injuries.
The first compensation payments will be made as early as next week, after verification by the National Human Rights Commission. The total amount is estimated at $15 million.
Presenting the National Framework Report on Reparations, William Ruto emphasized the scope of this process: it constitutes "the State's recognition that harm has been caused," without, however, implying an admission of responsibility. These reparations are neither "the price of life, pain, or loss," nor a reward for acts of violence. "A nation heals by tending to its wounds rather than pretending they don't exist," he stated.
The Commission Chairperson, Claris Ogangah, welcomed a measure that could contribute to national reconciliation. "Behind every statistic lies a human being, a family, and a community whose suffering has often remained invisible," she emphasized.
