Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo has defended her decision to accept an appointment by President William Ruto as Vice Chairperson of a new panel of experts tasked with overseeing compensation for victims of protests and riots.
Her inclusion in the panel gazetted on August 26, 2025 has sparked public debate, with critics warning that by accepting the role, she risks compromising her independence and betraying the trust of Kenyans who have endured state-sanctioned brutality. Many expected her to reject the appointment, citing her past bold stance against unconstitutional actions by the government.
But during the panel’s swearing-in on Thursday, Odhiambo pushed back against accusations of betrayal, delivering a deeply personal speech to reaffirm her commitment to justice.
“As I take up this responsibility, let it be known that I have in no way betrayed your trust,” she said. “Access to criminal justice remains central to me in our quest to protect the rule of law as the foundation of fundamental rights and freedoms.”
She assured families of those killed or injured during demonstrations that their pain would not be ignored. “The Panel of Experts that I join today bears both the duty and opportunity to spearhead a revolutionary shift in victim reparations. Never again shall Kenyans be killed by trigger-happy officers for exercising their constitutional rights on the streets.”
Odhiambo pledged transparency in her work, promising to keep Kenyans informed on progress and insisting that her duty lies with victims and the common mwananchi.
Her decision, however, stands in stark contrast to 2024, when she turned down an appointment by President Ruto to join a taskforce mandated to audit the country’s public debt. Then, she stood with the LSK Council, which dismissed the taskforce as unconstitutional since the role of auditing public finances belongs to the Auditor General.
“The Council of the Law Society of Kenya resolved that neither our president nor any of our members shall take up appointments or participate in the said taskforce,” LSK Secretary Florence Muturi said at the time.
For Odhiambo, the latest appointment presents a delicate balancing act between serving in a process led by a government accused of rights violations, and staying true to her role as the country’s foremost defender of the rule of law.
