Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has resigned from President William Ruto’s Victims Compensation Panel, bringing an abrupt end to her short stint as Vice Chairperson of the 15-member team tasked with overseeing compensation for victims of recent demonstrations across the country.
Her resignation follows weeks of mounting pressure from members of the legal fraternity, civil society groups, and opposition figures who questioned the propriety of her serving on a government-appointed body while still leading the independent professional association of lawyers.
Odhiambo announced her decision through a statement on Monday, expressing her commitment to continue advocating for justice for all victims despite stepping down from the government panel.
She emphasized that her resignation was guided by the need to safeguard the integrity and independence of the Law Society of Kenya, an institution long regarded as a key defender of the rule of law and constitutional order.
The panel, chaired by Presidential Constitutional Advisor Professor Makau Mutua, had been established to spearhead the process of identifying, documenting, and compensating individuals affected by violent protests that rocked several parts of the country earlier this year.
Critics, however, argued that the inclusion of the LSK President in the panel blurred the line between the executive and the independent legal body, raising fears of political interference in the Society’s affairs.
Some lawyers also accused the government of attempting to use the panel as a political tool to pacify growing public discontent rather than to deliver genuine justice to victims.
Adding to the controversy, the High Court on September 8 issued temporary orders suspending the operations of the Compensation Panel following a petition filed by Lawyer Levi Munyeri.
Odhiambo’s exit is now seen as a move to protect her credibility and reaffirm LSK’s traditional role as a watchdog for justice, transparency, and constitutional governance in Kenya.
