Faith Odhiambo, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), has moved to calm growing criticism over her appointment to a government-backed panel on protest victims.
The lawyer, who was sworn in last week as vice chairperson of an 18-member panel tasked with designing compensation for victims of demonstrations, insisted she was not working for President William Ruto’s administration.
“I do not work for the Government of Kenya nor the opposition,” Ms Odhiambo said in a statement on Thursday. “My call is to serve the people of Kenya and my learned colleagues at the Law Society of Kenya.”
Her appointment has sparked sharp debate in recent days. Critics argue that by accepting the position, Ms Odhiambo risks compromising her independence at a time when human rights groups accuse security agencies of using excessive force during protests.
The panel, chaired by Prof Makau Mutua — a senior advisor to President Ruto on constitutional affairs — was formed to oversee reparations for victims of demonstrations dating back to 2017.
But the High Court in Kerugoya has temporarily halted the team’s work. In its ruling, the court suspended the implementation of the presidential directive that created the panel until a full hearing is held.
Ms Odhiambo welcomed the court’s intervention, saying she had yet to take part in any meetings or decisions on behalf of the panel. Instead, she said she had been “keenly listening to the voices of the victims.”
“I know there are many Kenyans who were killed and injured, while others have been profiled and taken to court over trumped-up charges,” she said.
She urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to review cases where peaceful protesters had been charged with terrorism and to instead pursue officers accused of using excessive force.
The panel itself has already faced turbulence. Amnesty International Kenya’s executive director, Irũngũ Houghton, who was also sworn in, has suspended his participation.
“Let it be understood that apart from the swearing-in, I have not participated in any meetings or activities with or for the Panel of Experts,” Mr Houghton said. He stressed he would await further guidance from the court before rejoining.
The controversy reflects the wider struggle over accountability in Kenya’s recent wave of street protests. For victims’ families, the question remains whether promises of compensation will translate into justice.
For Ms Odhiambo, the challenge is to convince both her profession and the public that she can sit on a government-initiated body without losing the independence expected of the LSK.
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