How Ruto job made LSK president a political sensation

The president of the Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, has lately become one of the most talked-about figures in the country.

Her recent appointment as vice chairperson of President William Ruto’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots has sparked intense debate, underscoring her influential role.

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Odhiambo rose to prominence during the 2024 anti-tax protests, where she tirelessly advocated for the safety of demonstrators and demanded the release of arrested and abducted individuals.

Her hands-on approach, making court petitions, visiting police stations, and attending post-mortems, made her a darling of the public and a symbol of resistance against state excesses.

This reputation earned her international recognition, including the 2025 Commonwealth Rule of Law Award.

But her decision to accept a role on President Ruto’s compensation panel ignited a firestorm with critics, including fellow lawyers, accusing her of betraying the LSK’s independence.

They also argued that she violated the Constitution by joining a panel whose mandate duplicates the work of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Others questioned her consistency, noting she had previously rejected a presidential appointment to a debt audit task force on constitutional grounds.

Critics like lawyer Levi Munyeri argued that President Ruto lacked the authority to establish such a body without the involvement of the Public Service Commission, making the panel itself unconstitutional.

Despite calls for her resignation and threats of ouster by LSK members, Odhiambo defended her decision as a "pragmatic move to deliver justice" to victims of protest violence.

She argued that the existing judicial process was too slow and unresponsive, and her role on the panel could ensure faster compensation for affected families.

She vowed not to "betray Kenyans’ trust" and promised transparency in the compensation process for victims of police brutality.

“Should my efforts be frustrated or undermined in any manner whatsoever, I will do the honourable thing (and resign) in fidelity to the rule of law and Constitution of Kenya,” she said at the start of the hearings in Nairobi.

Her appointment was greeted by sharp reactions, the latest from the Media Council of Kenya condemning the "unwarranted and unjustified media attacks" on her.

“To demand that Ms Odhiambo rejects her appointment is an illogical demand tantamount to calling for all LSK members in public service to resign and focus solely on criticising the government,” the media council said.

MCK warned that the vilification of the LSK boss eroded trust in the media institutions even as the matter morphed into a huge political debate.

“When the media succumbs to the pressure of mob justice, it becomes the greatest betrayer of its own independence and objectivity,” the council added, asking the media to allow the LSK president to serve on the panel and contribute to the compensation of victims.

"When an institution like the LSK criticises government actions but declines an invitation to help address them, it risks becoming a rebel without a cause," the David Omwoyo-led council argued.

The public remains divided, with some praising her for seeking practical solutions, while others see her as compromising principles for political access.

“If we can use the compensation task force appropriately, then it may lead us to justice,” Vocal Africa boss Hussein Khalid told reporters at the weekend.

Those in support of her assignment attributed the attacks to the political battle pitting President William Ruto and his critics.

“Murima politics. If they hate a government, you must hate it too. They can work in the hated government, but you cannot. What is unconstitutional about an LSK officer being appointed to a team?” Billow Kerrow said.

For pro-government quarters, the attacks targeting the LSK boss were unfounded; others drew comparisons to the IDPs' compensation, which had little or no noise.

“Why was there no noise during the compensation of IDPs?’ an X user asked, even as others, especially the legal brass, kept going for the LSK president’s head.

For Odhiambo’s supporters, she, as the second female president of the LSK in its over-100-year history, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field.

Her ultimate legacy will depend on the panel's outcomes. If she succeeds in delivering tangible justice and compensation to victims while maintaining her independence, she may be vindicated as a pragmatic reformer.

However, if the panel is perceived as a government tool for political expediency, her reputation may be permanently tarnished.

President Ruto's administration is at a crossroads, grappling with the aftermath of protest violence and searching for a path toward justice and accountability to pacify the masses.

It therefore established the panel to design a framework for compensating victims of protest-related violence and property destruction.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Faith Odhiambo’s decision has forced a national conversation about how best to achieve justice and hold power accountable. Whether seen as a traitor or a reformer, her influence is undeniable, and Kenyans will be watching closely to see if her bold bet on engagement pays off for victims.