Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo has defended her decision to accept President William Ruto’s appointment as Vice Chairperson of the expert panel on compensation for victims of protests and riots. Her appointment, gazetted on August 26, 2025, has divided opinion among Kenyans, with some accusing her of betraying the fight for justice after months of protests that left dozens dead.
Why did Faith Odhiambo accept Ruto’s appointment?
During the panel’s swearing-in on Thursday, Odhiambo dismissed suggestions that she had turned her back on Kenyans. She described her decision as an act of patriotism and solidarity with victims’ families.
“As I take up this responsibility, let it be known that I have in no way betrayed your trust. Let it be clear that access to criminal justice remains critical to me in our quest to promote and protect the rule of law as an essential element in the enjoyment of the fundamental human rights and freedoms,” she said.
Odhiambo added that she would not let Kenyans down, assuring victims that the “bloodshed by the companion won’t be in vain.”
What role will the expert panel play?
She emphasized that the panel carries a historic duty to deliver justice and reparations. “The Panel of Experts that I join today bears both the duty and opportunity to spearhead a revolutionary shift in victim reparations,” Odhiambo stated. “Never again shall Kenyans be killed by trigger-hungry officers for exercising their constitutional rights on the streets.”
Her remarks also touched on a recent admission by a police officer of tampering with firearm records linked to the June 2024 Gen Z protests, underscoring the urgency of accountability.
Has Odhiambo rejected government roles before?
This is not the first time Odhiambo has been at the center of such debate. In 2024, she declined President Ruto’s appointment to join a task force auditing public debt after the LSK argued the role was unconstitutional. At the time, the society insisted that only the Auditor General had the legal mandate to carry out such an audit.
Her latest acceptance, however, signals a shift in approach as she pledges to walk with victims’ families and keep the public informed on progress. Odhiambo reaffirmed that her “solemn duty will be to deliver justice to the victims and the common mwananchi.”
By Risper Akinyi