When President William Ruto announced Kenya's Panel of Experts on the Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots in August 2025, many hoped it would finally address the police brutality that has plagued our protests since 2017. The 18-member panel, led by Professor Makau Mutua and Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo, has been tasked with identifying victims and recommending compensation within 120 days. But here's the uncomfortable truth: this panel, despite good intentions, falls far short of delivering real justice. As someone who has advocated for human rights in Kenya, I believe we deserve better than what amounts to a bureaucratic band-aid on a gaping wound. The South African Comparison That Doesn't Hold Up Panel supporters, including Chair Mutua, have compared this initiative to South Africa's famous Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This comparison is misleading and insulting to what real transitional justice looks like. South Africa...
Thoughts from a Kenyan entrepreneur passionate about startups.