Amnesty Kenya welcomes Irũngũ Houghton’s appointment to protest victims panel

Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irũngũ Houghton/FILE

Amnesty International Kenya has welcomed the appointment of Irũngũ Houghton to the newly gazetted Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests.

The organisation described the appointment as an opportunity to place victims’ rights at the centre of national redress efforts.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Dr. Stellah Bosire, Chairperson of the Amnesty International Kenya Board, clarified that Irũngũ, who serves as Amnesty Kenya’s Executive Director, will join the panel in a personal advisory capacity, and that his role on the panel will not compromise his ongoing work in advocating for justice.

“His appointment does not limit his responsibility to lead Amnesty’s advocacy, litigation, and pursuit of command responsibility for the abuses that have occurred,” Bosire said.

“He will remain bound by the paramount interests of the victims’ families and their demand for judicial redress.”

Bosire noted that Amnesty International Kenya has, for years, documented and demanded accountability for the violent suppression of public protests by security forces.

This has included incidents during the 2017 and 2023 post-election violence, the COVID-19 curfews, the Masimba killings, and most recently, the Gen Z-led protests.

“Police abuses, often publicly encouraged and sanctioned by both the police leadership and the Executive, have left deep scars,” Bosire said. “Only decisive action by the current administration will restore trust.”

Amnesty also stressed the importance of transparency, privacy, and dignity in the verification and compensation process.

“Compensation must not replace criminal accountability,” the statement warned.

“Citizens’ taxes should not shield criminals. Investigations must still be undertaken, and those suspected of having committed violations amounting to crimes must be prosecuted in fair trials.”

Bosire reiterated Amnesty’s demand for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to act swiftly in prosecuting those responsible for protest-related abuses.

The Panel of Experts was officially gazetted on Monday, led by legal scholar Makau Mutua as chairperson.

It was formed following a presidential proclamation by President William Samoei Ruto on August 8, 2025, which announced the creation of a national framework to coordinate compensation for individuals harmed or killed during demonstrations and public unrest since 2017.