Ruto appoints KNCHR Chair Claris Awuor to replace Faith Odhiambo in protest victims panel

President William Ruto has appointed Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Chairperson Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango as the Vice-Chair of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. 

According to a Special Gazette Notice issued on Tuesday, November 4, the directive takes forthwith after Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo recently resigned from the position amid mounting pressure from the public to safeguard the body’s independence. 

"It is notified for the general information of the public that pursuant to Gazette Notice No.12002 of 2025, His Excellency the President has appointed Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango as the Vice-Chairperson of the Panel of Experts with effect from November 4, 2025," the notice read in part. 

"The appointment of the Vice-Chairperson vide Gazette Notice No.12002 of 25th August 2025 is revoked."

The panel, established through an August 25 Kenya Gazette notice, was tasked with overseeing the compensation for victims of police brutality and violence during youth-led anti-government protests this year and last year, in which over 120 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

Chaired by Ruto’s senior advisor on constitutional affairs and human rights, Prof. Makau Mutua, the panel comprised Ms. Odhiambo as Vice-Chair, 12 members, 2 technical leads and two joint secretaries. 

Following her resignation, the LSK boss clarified that she initially accepted the role because it offered a chance to reform Kenya's legal framework for victim compensation. 

She, however, noted that a court order that suspended the panel's operations made it impossible for the panel to perform its tasks within 120 days. 

“As things stand, the time-bound mandate of the panel has been stopped by our courts, and the proposed tenure is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved,” Ms. Odhiambo stated in her statement dated October 6, 2025.