Ruto police brutality payout plan divides Kenya as missing victim families wait

Kenya’s bold move to compensate victims of police brutality is hitting fierce resistance from opposition leaders and activists who warn the government’s plan risks becoming a smokescreen for impunity.
Despite President William Ruto’s recent proclamation to set up a framework for reparations, critics argue that the initiative lacks transparency and inclusivity, threatening to deepen political divisions ahead of looming elections.
On Friday, 8 August 2025, Ruto established a coordinating framework for compensation of victims of protests and riots, to be housed under the Executive Office of the President.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had, on 19 July 2025, said victims of police brutality would receive compensation from the Government.
“There is a contingency fund in the National Budget. Compensation is going to happen soon, and we have a task force handling it”, Odinga said in an exclusive interview with a local TV station.
Odinga’s ODM party signed a working partnership with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Government led by President William Ruto.
Makau Mutua has since been appointed to chair the Framework. Mutua also serves as the President’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional and Human Rights.
On Saturday,  9 August 2025, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his DAP counterpart Eugene Wamalwa faulted the Government’s plans, cautioning that such a move could easily open Pandora’s box if implemented without involving all the parties.
“Through the shoot-to-kill and shoot-in-the-leg orders, can they be the ones responsible for redress and compensation of their victims of police brutality? A wolf cannot decide the matters of the cow crow. Fisi hawezi kusimamia kesi ya mbuzi,” Kalonzo told the press.
At the top of the contentious issues is the fate of the missing victims following a wave of alleged police killings, abductions and disappearances following the recent protests led by Gen-Z and Civil Rights activists across the country.
The Government continues to differ with Civil society Groups on the number of victims and the gravity of violence meted out. On Monday, 12 May 2025, Ruto said that all those abducted in the wake of anti-government protests had been “returned to their families” and promised it would not happen again.
However, families of the missing victims continue to grapple in the dark, unaware of their next steps, as the Government shows an unwillingness to launch investigations. These include the Families of political activists Laban Kiio and Rose Nyambate, who went missing in June 2025 and are yet to be found.
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Compensation squabbles?
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) and Amnesty International report that there were 61 people killed and 89 enforced disappearances linked to the 2024 Gen-Z-led anti-government protests.
Fourteen people were killed and Parliament was torched on 25 June 2024 when Gen Z protestors were staging the fifth of their “seven days of rage” hold-out against the Ruto government’s hard-line stance on the Finance Bill 2024. What followed was a series of police abductions and enforced disappearances, which continue over one year later.
Amongst those killed are Rex Masai (24), Abdi Kadie (21), Eric Shieni (27), and David Chege (39). Rex Masai’s case is currently happening at Milimani Courts, where witnesses have testified seeing Police Officer Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba firing at Rex. He denies the accusations.
On 15 August 2025, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka demanded the unconditional release of all Kenyans arrested and detained during the Maandamano and Sabasaba Day demonstrations. He also called for them to be compensated ‘for their physical and mental anguish’.
As the clock ticks towards the much-awaited November by-elections, following the constitution of the IEBC Commission, and as political temperatures rise across the country, pundits are waiting to see if this Framework will be another smokescreen by the Ruto administration to get away with what appears to be sanctioned police brutality against innocent protesters.