The Head of State said the government has already taken steps to ensure that those who suffered losses during demonstrations receive support.
Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting between members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Tuesday, March 10, the President said the government has set aside Ksh2 billion to support the compensation process.
According to the President, the money has already been included in the supplementary budget that has been submitted to the Parliament of Kenya for approval.
Ruto explained that the government has been working closely with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to identify individuals who were affected during the protests.
These include people who lost their lives, those who were injured, and others who suffered property damage.
He said the identification process has already been completed and that the victims have been profiled to make it easier for the government to compensate them once the funds are approved and released.
“I took the first step and gazetted a victims’ compensation panel. Even as the courts held it, we did some work.
We have identified all the victims and profiled their names. We have a comprehensive list of all the victims of protests from 2017,” the President said.
Ruto noted that the government’s intention is to ensure that the compensation process is fair and transparent.
He added that the panel responsible for handling the matter will oversee the distribution of funds to the victims once the process begins.
The President emphasized that the move is meant to help families and individuals who have been affected by political unrest over the years.
According to him, acknowledging the suffering of these victims is an important step toward national healing and reconciliation.
He also told the lawmakers present that the government is committed to ensuring that such incidents are addressed through dialogue and legal processes rather than conflict.
Political observers say the compensation plan is part of broader efforts by the government to implement recommendations that emerged from recent political discussions aimed at easing tensions in the country.
If Parliament approves the supplementary budget, the compensation process will begin immediately, with the aim of completing all payments by June 2026 as directed by the President.