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Post Reply: LSK President Faith Odhiambo Faces Calls to Resign Over Protest Compensation Panel Role

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on September 6, 2025, 6:01 am</div><div id="pl-7838"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7838-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7838-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7838-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), is facing mounting pressure to resign from her leadership role following her appointment as Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots. The 15-member panel, appointed by President William Ruto through a gazette notice on August 26, 2025, is tasked with designing a framework to verify, categorize, and compensate victims of protests dating back to 2017. Chaired by Professor Makau Mutua, Ruto’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, the panel was officially sworn in on September 4, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. However, Odhiambo’s decision to accept the role has sparked intense debate, with critics arguing it compromises the LSK’s independence and duplicates the mandate of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Odhiambo’s appointment has drawn sharp criticism from lawyers, activists, and sections of the public, who view her participation in the government-appointed panel as a betrayal of the LSK’s mandate to hold the state accountable. Critics argue that the panel’s functions overlap with those of the KNCHR, a constitutional body responsible for investigating human rights abuses and securing redress for victims. Lawyer Levi Munyeri, in a letter dated September 4, 2025, accused Odhiambo of violating the Constitution and the Law Society of Kenya Act by accepting the appointment. He argued that her role on the panel undermines the LSK’s statutory duty to uphold the rule of law and advance justice. Munyeri demanded Odhiambo resign as LSK President, threatening to file an urgent motion to remove her if she does not comply.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another advocate, Francis Wanjiku, echoed Munyeri’s sentiments, warning that Odhiambo’s involvement risks aligning the LSK with the executive, thus eroding its independence. Wanjiku called for the LSK Council to convene an extraordinary general meeting to allow members to decide whether Odhiambo should continue in office, citing a perceived conflict of interest. Social media platforms, particularly X, have also seen heated discussions, with users like Elly Okinyo accusing Odhiambo of betraying Kenyans by joining a government initiative they view as a “political cover-up.” Otieno Mak’Oluoch dismissed the panel as a hollow effort, comparing it to other government programs that have failed to deliver meaningful results.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The controversy is further fueled by a pending court case challenging the panel’s constitutionality. In HCCHRPET/E544/2025, Lempa Suiyanka vs. State Law Office and 4 Others, the High Court is examining whether the panel’s establishment violates the Constitution. Critics, including former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, have questioned the panel’s legitimacy, arguing that it cannot succeed where previous commissions, such as the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) and the Waki Commission, have failed to deliver justice for victims of state violence.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the panel’s swearing-in ceremony on September 4, 2025, Odhiambo delivered an impassioned speech defending her decision to accept the role. She described it as a “bold but unpopular step” driven by her commitment to justice and patriotism. “As I take up this responsibility, let it be known that I have in no way betrayed your trust,” she stated, emphasizing that her focus remains on amplifying the voices of victims and their families. Odhiambo vowed that the bloodshed of protest victims would not be in vain and promised to keep Kenyans informed of the panel’s progress, ensuring transparency and accountability.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Odhiambo highlighted the emotional toll of her role as LSK President, noting that since June 18, 2024, she has received relentless calls and messages from Kenyans reporting human rights violations, often at odd hours. “For over one year, I have known no peace,” she said, recounting how calls have reached her family and colleagues when she was unavailable. She cited specific cases, such as the unresolved killing of a baby girl in Nyalenda, Kisumu, during a police operation, and a police corporal’s admission on September 2, 2025, of altering firearm records tied to the Gen Z-led protests in Nairobi on June 18, 2024. Odhiambo argued that the current legal framework fails to address victims’ needs adequately, subjecting them to slow and unreliable prosecution processes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The LSK President pledged to spearhead a “revolutionary shift in victim reparations” through the panel, ensuring fair compensation and justice for those affected by protest-related violence. She also addressed concerns about her loyalty, stating, “My service will be solely to the people of Kenya. There is no Kenya that exclusively belongs to politicians and their children.” However, she hinted at resigning from the panel if her efforts are “frustrated or undermined,” underscoring her commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite the backlash, Odhiambo has received support from notable figures. Professor Makau Mutua, the panel’s chairperson, defended her on X on September 5, 2025, dismissing critics as “nondescript” and praising her dedication to serving victims. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also backed Odhiambo, arguing that it would be unthinkable for the LSK President to pass up the opportunity to advocate for victims. Wanga urged the panel to act swiftly to ensure justice for affected families and to reform the state’s approach to handling protests. Migori Senator Eddy Oketch similarly defended Odhiambo, criticizing her detractors for lacking a history of meaningful activism and emphasizing her integrity and courage.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama also supported the panel, dismissing claims that it is designed to shield the government. Speaking on Spice FM, Kanjama argued that the establishment of a team to expedite compensation should be celebrated, not condemned.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Panel of Experts, with a 120-day term, is tasked with developing an operational framework to verify and categorize victims of protests since 2017, authenticating data from sources like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), KNCHR, the National Police Service, and the Ministry of Health. The panel will recommend reparations, prosecutions, and legislative reforms to promote responsible policing and proper protest conduct. Its secretariat is based at the KICC, with official correspondence directed to P.O. Box 30510–0100, G.P.O. Nairobi.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Other panel members include Kennedy Ogeto, Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International Kenya, John Olukuru, Reverend Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Duncan Ojwang, Naini Lankas, Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu. The technical team is led by Richard Barno, with Duncan Okelo Ndeda as Co-Technical Lead, and Jerusah Mwaathime Michael and Raphael Ng’etich as joint secretaries.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Odhiambo’s current role contrasts with her stance in 2024, when she rejected President Ruto’s appointment to a task force auditing public debt, citing its unconstitutionality. At the time, the LSK, through Secretary Florence Muturi, argued that only the Auditor General has the mandate to conduct such audits. This decision earned Odhiambo praise for upholding the LSK’s independence, making her acceptance of the protest panel role particularly contentious.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As LSK President since March 2024, Odhiambo has been a vocal advocate for justice, notably during the Gen Z protests of June 25, 2025, where she defended the youth and the judiciary’s independence. Her historic election as the second female LSK President, following Raychelle Omamo, and her concurrent leadership alongside Chief Justice Martha Koome, have been celebrated as milestones for gender representation in Kenya’s legal sphere.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The debate over Odhiambo’s role reflects broader tensions about the balance between state cooperation and institutional independence. While some, like user A. Hofmann on X, view the panel as a legitimate avenue for conflict resolution, others remain skeptical, citing past government initiatives that promised justice but delivered little. Amnesty International and KNCHR have documented over 180 protest-related deaths since 2017, including 63 during the 2024 Gen Z protests and 38 in 2025, heightening the stakes for the panel’s success.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As Odhiambo navigates this controversy, her leadership and the panel’s work will be closely scrutinized. The LSK’s response to calls for her resignation, and the outcome of the court challenge to the panel’s constitutionality, will likely shape the future of her presidency and the broader quest for justice for protest victims in Kenya.</p>
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