Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations chairperson Prof Makau Mutua /FILE
The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations has processed 680 legitimate claims and disbursed Sh896.1 million to victims, including those affected by demonstrations and public protests.
The panel said the payments had been made in three phases, with Sh448.7 million paid during the initial phase, Sh225.4 million in the second phase and Sh247.95 million in the third phase.
In an update issued Friday, the panel's chairperson Makau Mutua said they remain committed to ensuring victims receive compensation through a process anchored on fairness, transparency and accountability.
“The Panel remains committed to a victim-centred process conducted with integrity, transparency, and compassion,” Mutua said.
The latest figures show that 472 claims initially submitted to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) remain outstanding because of insufficient supporting documentation.
The panel said it was working with IPOA regional offices to locate affected victims and their beneficiaries and assist them in providing the required documents.
“The Panel is working with IPOA regional offices to locate the affected victims and their beneficiaries, to gather the requisite documents and enable the timely processing of compensation,” he said.
The compensation programme covers several categories of harm, including fatalities, injuries, economic losses, sexual offences and violations suffered by uniformed officers.
Some nine claims have been lodged under the sexual offences category, with eight already processed and compensated while one remains pending.
The panel has also received 600 economic loss claims. Four have been fully processed and compensated, while 594 are still being assessed for eligibility.
Uniformed officers affected by human rights violations have also been included in the compensation programme.
The panel has approved 49 claims involving officers, comprising seven cases classified as severe injuries, 37 moderate injuries and five minor injuries. The total compensation for the officers stands at Sh25.75 million.
“In acknowledgement of the dedication by our uniformed officers to protecting the public, the Panel has resolved to grant appropriate compensation for the human rights violations they sustained,” Mutua said.
The third phase alone covers 175 victims and amounts to Sh222 million.
It includes 50 fatalities compensated at Sh3 million each, 46 severe injuries at Sh1 million each, 49 moderate injuries at Sh500,000 each, 21 minor injuries at Sh50,000 each and nine economic-loss cases at Sh50,000 each.
The panel has also reviewed compensation awarded in some cases, reclassifying three claims from minor to severe following examination of medical reports and post-application submissions.
Five victims have been approved for above-scale compensation because of permanent, grave or life-altering injuries.
The panel said it would recommend that the affected victims be included in a government-funded lifetime medical scheme.
It also said claims relating to enforced disappearances were undergoing review and verification, noting that such cases required intensive investigations.
The panel said it would periodically publish lists of compensated beneficiaries in the Kenya Gazette in line with its commitment to transparency.
“We remain guided by the principles of openness, equity, and respect for individual dignity,” Mutua said.
He urged eligible victims to submit their claims without delay, saying the programme would continue on a rolling basis until all eligible victims are compensated.
