President William Ruto has formed a 16-member team, led by Prof. Makau Mutua, to oversee compensation for victims of protests since 2017. Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has been appointed to the team as a Vice Chairperson.
The Atheists In Kenya Society urges the President of the Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, to turn down this appointment. As far as the Society is concerned, the setting up of this team is a cosmetic exercise aimed at hoodwinking Kenyans.
Families and survivors of the Gen Z-led protests of 2024 have made it clear that no amount of compensation will be accepted unless those responsible for violence and deaths during the demonstrations are held accountable. You can never compensate life.
Task Forces Are Mostly Political Tools
President William Ruto’s tenure has been marked by a recurring reliance on task forces to address critical national issues, from education and health reforms to reviving sugar industries.
This strategy has become a defining feature of his administration.
While these task forces demonstrate his intent to tackle key challenges, they never offer genuine solutions and are at most merely political tools.
Despite some recommendations, few task forces have seen their proposals implemented, while others have yet to produce significant outcomes, casting doubt on their overall value.
One prominent example is the 129-member University Funding Model task force, established on September 16, 2024, following public uproar over the controversial funding model.
The group was tasked with reviewing the model and addressing appeals related to student funding categorisation. However, despite an extended tenure and submitting its report to current Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the findings remain unpublished.
Reputation
As LSK President, Faith Odhiambo has consistently, fearlessly, and impartially promoted the rule of law and human rights in Kenya. She has emerged as a bold and compassionate defender of constitutional freedoms, standing firmly with citizens arrested during anti-government protests.
If she accepts this appointment, her public image will take a turn for the worse.
Building a solid reputation takes hard work, patience, and time. But it only takes one wrong move to ruin it. As someone who inspires millions of Kenyans, we really hope Faith turns down this appointment.
Join our WhatsApp Group. Send a WhatsApp Message to +254 799 919666