Kenyan human rights activist Hanifa Adan has praised President William Ruto’s decision to establish a framework for compensating families of people killed during protests.
She described the move as a positive and necessary step toward acknowledging the suffering endured by victims and their loved ones.
Speaking to candidly, Adan said that while no amount of money could bring back those who had lost their lives or restore the physical and emotional toll on survivors, financial compensation was still an important way to recognize their rights.
“This compensation won’t bring them back to life or heal the pain, but it’s a very good step,” she said. “Give the families their rights. I’m always getting calls from them and I could only help so much through fundraising. Now they should be given their justice as well.”
Adan explained that over the years, she had been contacted by countless families who were struggling after losing loved ones to police shootings or violence during demonstrations.
In many cases, victims were breadwinners leaving households facing severe financial hardship.
She emphasized that the government’s commitment to compensation should not end with payouts alone but must be accompanied by accountability for those responsible.
“We demand justice. Arrest the killer cops,” she declared stressing that true closure could only come when those behind the violence faced the law.
The activist’s remarks come in the wake of heightened calls from civil society organizations, church leaders and opposition groups for justice and reform within the police service.
They have accused some officers of using excessive force during crowd control operations leading to unnecessary loss of life and injury.
President Ruto’s proposed compensation framework has been welcomed as a sign that the government is willing to address the grievances of victims’ families.
Details of how the process will work including the amount to be paid and the eligibility criteria are expected to be made public in the coming weeks.
For activists like Hanifa Adan, the move is not just about money but about restoring dignity and acknowledging the pain endured by ordinary Kenyans caught in the crossfire of political unrest.
She insists that unless the government takes firm action against rogue officers, history will keep repeating itself.
“Compensation is the first step,” she concluded. “Justice is the destination.”
By Nairobi