Top national and county leaders have expressed their support for President William Ruto’s decision to establish a mechanism to compensate Kenyans who lost their lives, sustained injuries, or experienced other injustices during protests dating as far back as 2017.
Speaking at the funeral service of former Member of Parliament and Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay County, the leaders described the initiative as historic, courageous, and morally right—a significant step towards healing past wounds and fostering national reconciliation.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi praised the President for taking a principled stand in line with Kenya’s commitments as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“The President’s decision to compensate Kenyans affected by protests is so important — no one wants to see bloodshed. It is a courageous and morally right step, and we hope that moving forward, such incidents will never be repeated in our republic,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury John Mbadi described the initiative as unprecedented in Africa, pledging that funds would be made available to ensure its full implementation.
“We are going to do what has never happened on this continent—compensating people who have suffered at the hands of law enforcement officers. This will open a new chapter for our country,” Mbadi affirmed.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga noted that while compensation has been a recurring topic in past reports, this is the first time a concrete framework has been established to address the issue.
“Today is historic because a framework for compensation has finally been established for all those injured or killed during protests since 2017. This has never happened before,” Wanga stated.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang welcomed the move, underscoring the county’s full support for the Broad-Based Government’s reform agenda.
“When we woke up today and saw that the President has formed a taskforce to address these injustices, it was wonderful news. The people of Homa Bay are fully on board,” he said.
The leaders also paid tribute to Phoebe Asiyo for her lifelong dedication to public service and advocacy for women’s rights, noting that her legacy continues to inspire efforts towards justice, equity, and national unity.
