Ruto Finally Acts on Protest Victims — But Is It Too Late?

Ever since Kenya’s streets lit up with protests in 2017, people have been asking one simple question: who pays for the pain?

Now, 8 years later — and just weeks after Raila Odinga brought it up (again) — President William Ruto has decided it’s finally time to act.

On Friday, the President rolled out a shiny new State-backed team to come up with a plan to compensate victims of protests and riots dating back to 2017.

According to an official Presidential Proclamation, sealed with that big government stamp, the team will design a “coordinating framework” to handle the process. It will live under the Executive Office of the President, right where all big promises usually go to nap.

The document says Kenya has a “compelling national interest” in dealing with the harm suffered by both civilians and security officers during demonstrations. It also reminds us that the Constitution demands balance — between the right to protest and the need for public order.

But let’s be honest — this didn’t just come out of nowhere.

For months now, Raila Odinga’s ODM party has been reminding the government that many people suffered during protests — and that justice never showed up. Compensation was a major demand in the ODM-UDA cooperation deal. And with pressure from the June protests still fresh in people’s minds, this announcement feels… conveniently timed.

Still, the plan is now on paper. The team will work out how to identify victims, what kind of support they’ll get, and how far back the payouts will go. Will it be money? Services? A certificate and handshake? That part is still unclear.

We’ve heard promises before. But most victims, especially in places like Kisumu, Mathare, Kibra, and Mombasa, never saw justice. Not even an apology. Some can still point to bullet holes in their walls. Others buried children without ever knowing who gave the order.

This new team now carries a heavy task — and a lot of public doubt.

Will it truly address the pain? Will it listen to real victims? Will it admit that both police and protesters were failed by the system?

And, just for fun, will it include anyone who actually experienced a protest — or just more suits in boardrooms?

Featured image via Screengrab