By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 15 June 2026 - President William Ruto has pledged to fully implement recommendations contained in a landmark report proposing compensation and reparations for victims of human rights violations committed during protests and public demonstrations in Kenya.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, after receiving the Framework for Compensation and Reparations for Victims of Human Rights Violations During Protests and Picketing from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the President described the initiative as a significant step toward addressing a long-standing national challenge.
Ruto acknowledged that for many years, public demonstrations in Kenya have frequently been accompanied by violence, injuries, deaths, destruction of property, and deep societal divisions despite constitutional guarantees protecting the rights of citizens to assemble, protest, picket, and petition.
“For far too long, whenever Kenyans have exercised their constitutional and democratic rights to assemble, picket, demonstrate and petition, the outcome has too often been marked by violence, injury, loss of life, destruction of property, bitterness and division,” the President said.
He further admitted that in some instances, the response by security agencies had involved excessive use of force, resulting in violations of rights and the loss of innocent lives.
The President noted that while successive governments have condemned such incidents over the years, meaningful solutions have remained elusive.
“Today, we have chosen to act. We do so because the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of undertaking the difficult but necessary work of reform,” he said.
Ruto linked the report to the outcomes of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) process initiated in 2023, which brought together the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition led by the late Raila Odinga to address political grievances, strengthen democratic institutions, and promote national cohesion.
He described the report as the beginning of an important national journey aimed at healing historical wounds, strengthening democracy, and fostering reconciliation.
“As Government, we commit ourselves to the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the KNCHR report,” he said, adding that the administration remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Kenyans while ensuring that demonstrations take place in an environment that respects human dignity and safeguards lives.
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KNCHR Chairperson Dr Claris Oganga, who presented the report to the President, said the framework seeks to acknowledge the suffering endured by victims and their families while laying the foundation for national healing.
“The stories captured in the Reparations Framework Report remind us that behind every statistic is a human being, a family and a community whose suffering has often remained unseen and unacknowledged,” Oganga said.
“By giving voice to these experiences, the report contributes to a national process of healing founded on truth, recognition and remembrance,” she added.
Kenya has witnessed numerous episodes of protest-related violence over the decades, including clashes during political demonstrations, election-related unrest, and recent anti-government protests. Human rights organizations have repeatedly documented cases involving deaths, injuries, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and allegations of excessive force by security agencies.
The KNCHR framework is expected to provide a structured approach for identifying victims, determining eligibility for compensation and reparations, and recommending measures aimed at accountability, recognition, and non-recurrence of violations.
The report is also seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen public trust in state institutions and promote reconciliation by acknowledging past injustices suffered by victims of protest-related violence.
With the government's commitment to implement the recommendations, attention will now turn to the development of legal, policy, and administrative mechanisms required to operationalize the reparations framework and deliver justice to affected individuals and communities.
Ruto Pledges to Implement KNCHR Reparations Report for Victims of Protest-Related Human Rights Violations
Head of State describes the KNCHR report as the beginning of an important national journey aimed at healing historical wounds.