Police brutality victims urged to file compensation claims before November 14 deadline

The compensation panel for victims of police brutality is urging Kenyans who are yet to register their grievances and compensation claims to do so within the next two weeks.

The panel, whose mandate expires on November 14, is considering seeking an extension, saying it has so far compensated more than 1,000 victims, disbursing Ksh.1.2 billion.

The Panel chairman, Professor Makau Mutua is urging victims of police brutality who have yet to come forward to register before November 14, warning that those who fail to do so risk being left out of the process.

Mutua made the appeal when he met with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has been supporting the panel with investigative data on victims of police brutality.

“IPOA was called upon as an investigator and surprisingly, IPOA has 90% of the data of those who have been hurt in protests. This has been a process led by independent investigators, and we can assure Kenyans that the process was done without any bias," said IPOA Chair Duncan Ojwang'.

Mutua on his part said, “This exercise of repair is the first in a long series of a long process that the president has initiated. We were given Ksh.2 billion and by now we have given out about Ksh.2 billion. Other processes are still ongoing, including prosecution we are in the process of enacting laws governing protests just like other developed countries.”

The panel has so far compensated more than 1,000 victims across different categories, including deaths, injuries and economic losses. However, the payments have done little to ease the pain of families who lost their loved ones.

The compensation panel visited the family of Rex Masai, who has already received compensation. The family says the payment was welcome, but the prolonged court case has taken a toll on them. They are urging the government to expedite the proceedings.

“Naskia uchungu sana hadi wa leo kesi ya Rex haijaamuliwa,kama kuna evidence na kila mtu anajua mbona hiyo kesi isiishe? Tumechoka kuenda kortini kila siku.Watu wanauliza kama tulilipwa tunyamaze," said Masai’s mother Gillian Munyao.

Masai’s father Chrisphine Odawa added, "Tumewasamehe lakini naomba isifanyike tena kwa mtu mwingine.”

Mutua says the compensation process is separate from investigations into police brutality and will not shield anyone found culpable from accountability.

The panel is urging Kenyans who have not yet registered their claims to do so before the November 14 deadline.