Irungu Houghton resigns from Ruto’s protest victims compensation panel
Irungu Houghton resigns from Ruto's protest victims compensation panel
Amnesty International-Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton has resigned from the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the Panel, Prof. Makau Mutua on Friday, January 9, Houghton said his decision was driven by fidelity to the Constitution, the rule of law, and respect for judicial authority.
Houghton said he was formally stepping down with immediate effect following President William Ruto’s decision to extend the panel’s mandate by 180 days, despite a High Court judgment delivered in December 2025.
“I write to formally tender my resignation from the Panel of Experts with immediate effect. My decision follows the President’s 5 January 2026 extension of the Panel’s mandate for a further 180 days despite the 4 December 2025 ruling of the Kerugoya High Court,” he said.
Houghton stated that the High Court ruling fundamentally changed the legal standing of the panel and made its continued operation untenable from a constitutional perspective.
“The 4 December 2025 judgment, in my considered view, materially alters both the legal basis and institutional legitimacy of the Panel’s continued existence. As a constitutionalist, I am obligated to respect judicial determinations and act in a manner that safeguards the integrity of independent institutions,” he added.
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Houghton warned that continuing to serve under the extended mandate risked legitimising an arrangement that had already been declared unconstitutional and weakening the statutory role of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
He also raised concerns about a court application filed in mid-December, saying his name had been improperly included as an appellant without his consent or involvement.
“I suspended my involvement on the panel on 11 September to await the court ruling and did not enter appearance when listed as an interested party, trusting that the High Court would offer a way forward. I was neither consulted nor do I support the 15 December application to stay the court ruling which was only communicated to Panel members for the first time on 8 January 2026,” he continued.
Houghton further said the decision to challenge the High Court ruling directly contradicted his publicly stated position, including an opinion article he authored shortly after the judgment.
He distanced himself from the legal challenge and clarified that his resignation should not be seen as endorsement of the panel’s actions.
Despite his resignation, Houghton expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in efforts aimed at justice and reparations for victims of state violence.
Houghton stressed that constitutional compliance must outweigh political convenience, arguing that the High Court had already provided a lawful path for compensation through the KNCHR.
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