President William Ruto speaks during the official handover and commissioning of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on October 7, 2026/ PCSPresident William Ruto has said families of people whose bodies were recovered from River Yala will be included in the government’s compensation programme for victims of human rights violations.
Ruto said the compensation would also cover other victims of extrajudicial disappearances, expanding the scope of the programme beyond those affected during protests and demonstrations.
The President spoke on Wednesday during the official handover and commissioning of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
Ruto said the compensation programme was part of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s pursuit of electoral justice.
"Raila was a fighter. He pushed hard. He pushed hard to extend the boundaries of our democracy," Ruto said.
He said Raila’s pursuit of electoral justice had contributed to the establishment of the compensation programme for victims of protests.
"We set aside Sh2 billion and hundreds of families have already been paid, and we will not stop until every verified victim receives justice," Ruto said.
"This compensation will extend to the families of the many whose bodies were recovered here in River Yala and other victims of extrajudicial disappearance," he said.
Ruto's announcement comes as the government continues to implement the compensation programme for victims of human rights violations linked to demonstrations and public protests.
The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations said in September that it had processed 1,083 claims, with total disbursements reaching Sh1.01 billion.
The claims covered fatalities, injuries, sexual violence, economic losses and other recognised forms of harm.
The panel also said it had settled 139 claims relating to verified economic losses, particularly those suffered by small and informal business owners.
It had further approved 100 claims from uniformed officers who suffered human rights violations during demonstrations and protests.
The panel said it had ring-fenced Sh105 million from the compensation fund for victims of torture and enforced disappearances pending the hearing and determination of a court petition.
The government set aside the Sh2 billion fund after receiving the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights' reparations framework in June.
The commission said it had received 1,937 claims covering the period between 2017 and 2025, of which 1,101 had been verified.
The violations considered under the framework include extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, illegal evictions, and loss of property and livelihoods.
Ruto said the compensation programme would continue until every verified victim received justice.
