Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended the government’s reparations programme for victims of protest-related human rights violations, describing it as a crucial step toward national healing rather than a simple compensation exercise.
Speaking at State House during the presentation of the Framework for Reparations for Victims of Human Rights Violations, Kindiki said the initiative marks the beginning of a broader effort to rebuild trust between citizens and state institutions while addressing injustices linked to demonstrations.
According to the Deputy President, the programme seeks to promote accountability, reconciliation and responsible exercise of constitutional freedoms.
“Today is one of my proudest moments since I left law school nearly 30 years ago,” Kindiki said. “We are gathered here to advance the agenda of our country more in the area of restorative justice and repairing relationships among ourselves.”
Focus shifts from compensation to reconciliation
Kindiki emphasized that the reparations framework goes beyond financial payments and should be viewed as part of a wider national reconciliation process.
He noted that while compensation may provide relief to affected families, some losses, particularly deaths, can never be fully repaid.
“Today we are not talking compensation; we are talking reparation because we cannot compensate death. I mean, it’s unimaginable,” he said.
The Deputy President explained that restorative justice focuses on repairing relationships and acknowledging harm suffered by victims, unlike traditional justice systems that primarily focus on punishment.
He said Kenya is now taking significant steps into the field of transitional justice, an area many countries have struggled to address effectively.
Balancing rights and accountability
Kindiki reaffirmed the constitutional right of Kenyans to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition public authorities, but stressed that those freedoms must be exercised responsibly.
He observed that public debate has often centred on demonstrations while overlooking other constitutional rights and responsibilities.
According to the Deputy President, many protests organized by professional groups, trade unions and civil society organizations have remained peaceful, with challenges mainly arising during politically charged demonstrations.
He said the reparations framework would strengthen accountability for both security agencies and demonstrators while encouraging lawful engagement.
“Legal discussion must balance crime and punishment even as we talk about reparation,” Kindiki stated.
The Deputy President further highlighted the legal principles that punishment must be based on established law and proportionate to the offence committed.
Call for peaceful and orderly demonstrations
Kindiki expressed optimism that Kenya can build a future where demonstrations are conducted peacefully and without disruption to the lives of ordinary citizens.
He called on political leaders to take greater responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and to work closely with law enforcement agencies when organizing public protests.
According to him, peaceful demonstrations should allow citizens to exercise their constitutional rights without threatening public safety, businesses or essential services.
He argued that political competition should not come at the expense of millions of Kenyans who are not directly involved in politics.
“We must make sure that we don’t make this country dangerous for the 55 million Kenyans who do not earn a living from politics,” he said.
Historic step toward restorative justice
The Deputy President described the reparations programme as one of the most significant milestones in Kenya’s pursuit of justice, accountability and national unity.
He said the framework provides an opportunity for the country to acknowledge past wrongs, support victims and strengthen confidence in public institutions.
As implementation begins, the government hopes the initiative will contribute to long-term reconciliation and help prevent future violations linked to political unrest and demonstrations.
Kindiki maintained that the success of the programme will not be measured solely by compensation payments, but by its ability to promote healing and restore trust among Kenyans.
