Makau Mutua Explains How Protest Victims Can Apply for Government Compensation

Makau Mutua Explains How Protest Victims Can Apply for Government Compensation

Chairperson of the Protest Victims Compensation Panel, Professor Makau Mutua, has clarified the process that victims of demonstrations and political protests must follow to receive government compensation, urging affected individuals to come forward and formally submit their claims after concerns emerged that some eligible victims had been left out of the compensation programme.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Sunday, June 28, Prof. Mutua dismissed claims that the compensation panel would individually trace victims, emphasizing that applicants must take the initiative by identifying themselves and filing their claims through the designated channels.

His remarks come days after the government disbursed Ksh448 million under the first phase of the compensation programme, benefiting 348 verified victims affected by protests and demonstrations held between 2013 and 2025.

The compensation exercise has, however, sparked debate after some victims and families alleged that deserving beneficiaries had been excluded from the initial payout, raising concerns over transparency and accessibility of the process.

Responding to the concerns, Mutua explained that the panel can only compensate individuals whose claims have been formally submitted and successfully verified.

“Victims should lodge claims with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, IPOA. I myself have called openly for anyone who feels that they qualify for compensation to come forward and lodge a claim,” Mutua said.

Besides filing claims through the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), victims also have the option of submitting their applications directly to the Protest Victims Compensation Panel.

According to Mutua, the panel has established an office at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where victims can submit their documentation physically. Applicants may also contact the panel through its official email addresses and designated telephone numbers.

“Victims have to self-identify, and they have to go to places which are designated. They have to contact us at various phone numbers and also at email accounts. We have an office at KICC,” he explained.

The panel chair further noted that every application will undergo a rigorous verification process before compensation is approved to ensure that only genuine victims benefit from the programme.

For families seeking compensation following the death of a loved one during a protest, applicants will be required to present supporting documentation, including a death certificate and a post-mortem report confirming the circumstances surrounding the death.

Individuals seeking compensation for injuries sustained during demonstrations must provide evidence such as police occurrence book (OB) reports, medical records, hospital treatment notes, medical bills and any additional documents that support their claims.

Mutua acknowledged concerns that fraudulent claims could be submitted but maintained that the panel has developed strict verification procedures to safeguard public funds.

The compensation programme covers victims affected during protests and demonstrations that occurred between 2013 and 2025, but the panel emphasized that not every injury or incident automatically qualifies for payment.

Instead, applicants must demonstrate that their claims are directly linked to the lawful exercise of constitutional rights relating to peaceful assembly, demonstrations, picketing or petitions.

“The claim that is made must be connected to a protest or a riot in the course of exercising the rights protected under Article 37, which is the right to protest, to demonstrate, to petition and so on. So your claim must fall within those events. If it does not, it does not qualify,” Mutua stated.

The compensation initiative forms part of broader government efforts to address historical grievances arising from protests that have resulted in deaths, injuries and alleged violations of constitutional rights over the past decade.

As the verification process continues, the Protest Victims Compensation Panel has encouraged all eligible victims and affected families who have not yet submitted their claims to do so promptly through the approved channels to ensure their cases are assessed for future compensation phases.

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Makau Mutua Explains How Protest Victims Can Apply for Government Compensation