Faith Odhiambo resigns from Victims of Protests Compensation Committee
Faith Odhiambo resigns from Victims of Protests Compensation Committee
Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, where she was serving as the vice chairperson.
In a statement released on Monday, Odhiambo noted that her decision comes at a critical juncture when Kenya is seeking constitutional implementation and lasting peace in its democratic context.
Citing the courts’ halting of the committee’s mandate, she explained that the courts had stopped the time-sensitive mandate of the Panel, and the proposed 120-day tenure of the Panel is likely to lapse before the matter is resolved and settled.
“Accordingly, I have today handed in my formal and immediate resignation from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests to the Head of Public Service,” Odhiambo stated.
The LSK President emphasized that this consequential moment for the country calls for all rule of law institutions, especially the Law Society of Kenya, to remain unified and resolute in discharging the mandate bestowed upon them by law.
Odhiambo expressed frustration over the Panel’s inability to function effectively due to court intervention, noting that while the clock runs down on the Panel’s lifetime, victims continue to reach out in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the Panel will be honoured.
“Unfortunately, it is not possible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritize other avenues of responding to the plight of victims through the other positions I hold, especially the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya,” she said.
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Despite stepping down from the Panel, Odhiambo reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to advocating for victims’ rights.
“My commitment to agitate for the rights of victims remains impregnable; I will continue to take up and prosecute matters on behalf of victims of police excesses during demonstrations, and work towards safeguarding holistic justice for victims,” she assured.
The LSK President highlighted that a significant gap in the victim reparations framework remains, which must be addressed urgently. She called on all justice stakeholders and Human Rights institutions to formulate legislative proposals to reconcile the infirmities in the law and institutions that have left victims prejudiced and short-handed in their quest for justice.
Odhiambo outlined that proposals will focus on ensuring that Kenya transforms its approach to dealing with victims of police ‘brutality’, from the current protracted process of allocating criminal liability to an efficient and victim-centered approach to rehabilitating Victims and restoring them to a life of dignity and purpose.
“We must treat reparations for victims with the same seriousness with which we treat repercussions for perpetrators,” she emphasized.
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