Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations chair Prof Makau Mutua. /FILE
The government-appointed Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations has disbursed Sh674.1 million to 505 victims of human rights abuses.
The panel said it has recorded a sharp increase in the number of people seeking compensation since calling on victims to come forward two weeks ago.
According to a statement issued Friday by the panel chaired by Makau Mutua, more than 400 new claims have been received, including applications submitted at its offices at the KICC, as well as additional names forwarded by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
In the latest phase of compensation, the panel approved 157 claims worth Sh225.4 million.
The beneficiaries include families of 57 people who lost their lives, each awarded Sh3 million, accounting for Sh171 million.
Another 19 victims with severe injuries received Sh1 million each, while 57 people with moderate injuries were awarded Sh500,000 apiece. Eighteen victims classified as having suffered minor injuries received Sh50,000 each, while six survivors of aggravated sexual offences were awarded Sh1 million each.
"To date, 505 victims have been compensated, with total disbursements of Sh674.1 million. This includes Sh448.7 million disbursed in the initial phase," the panel said.
This translates to 56 per cent of all the claims received and processed.
The panel said every successful application had undergone rigorous verification to ensure only eligible victims benefit from the programme.
"Every approved claim has undergone the strictest scrutiny for verification and authentication to confirm eligibility," the statement said.
It added that once the exercise is complete, the names of all beneficiaries will be made public in line with legal requirements on accountability and transparency.
The experts urged victims who are yet to submit claims or provide consent, bank account information and other payment details to do so without delay to facilitate processing.
"The programme will continue on a rolling basis until every eligible victim is compensated. We remain committed to ensuring prompt, fair and dignified compensation for all verified victims," the panel said.
The panel also acknowledged public concerns over whether victims of enforced disappearances and torture would be covered, saying it has prepared a set of frequently asked questions to clarify the scope of the compensation programme.
Addressing survivors directly, Mutua said, "To the victims, your courage in coming forward has made this possible. We continue to honour your resilience and dignity as we make steady progress, and we shall not rest until every victim gets justice."
The panel further announced that psychological support services are available at its KICC offices to help victims dealing with trauma arising from their experiences.
"Our team is ready to offer counselling and psychosocial care in a safe environment," the statement said, encouraging survivors to seek both financial redress and emotional support as the compensation exercise continues.
