ODM youth leader Kasmuel McOure on Thursday criticized the outgoing Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo for resigning from a national compensation panel for victims of police brutality, saying her departure undermined the late Raila Odinga’s vision for justice and national healing.
Kasmuel said Odhiambo's leaving before the panel completed its 120-day mandate was failure to uphold the moral and leadership values Raila championed, and a missed opportunity to deliver fairness and closure to families affected by state violence.
He said that Odhiambo had risen to prominence through Raila Odinga’s support and that her decision to step aside during a sensitive moment reflected poor leadership.
“When she became LSK president, it was under Baba’s backing,” he said. “How do you dishonour him in his final days by walking away from his mission of justice for victims?”
Odhiambo resigned from her position as vice-chairperson of the panel of experts on compensation of victims of demonstrations and public protests on October 6, 2025.
The committee was formed through a Gazette notice issued by the government on August 25, 2025, and was tasked with developing a framework for compensating citizens affected by police brutality and violence during political demonstrations.
The 15-member panel, which was to operate for 120 days, was established to recommend policy and administrative measures for addressing human rights violations resulting from public unrest.
It was also expected to coordinate with agencies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to ensure justice and reparations for victims and their families.
In her resignation letter, the lawyer said the High Court’s suspension of the panel’s activities had halted progress, making it unlikely for the committee to complete its work within the 120-day deadline.
She also raised concerns about the independence of the Law Society of Kenya, noting that continued participation in a government-formed committee could compromise the society’s neutrality, especially in cases involving state agencies accused of rights violations
Kasmuel added the youth who had defended the LSK president online during past controversies felt deeply let down.
“It was the young people of the revolution who protected her from online attacks,” he said. “Now we see that loyalty was misplaced.”
He reiterated that the compensation initiative had been a key part of Raila Odinga’s unfinished legacy.
According to Kasmuel, Odinga wanted a legal and moral framework to guarantee fair compensation for victims of state violence, including those who lost limbs or lives during political protests.
“Baba wanted Kenya to have a system where, if someone loses an arm, there is a known level of compensation, if someone dies, their family receives justice,” he said. “He wanted this to go beyond temporary political gestures and become a national principle.”
Kasmuel also praised ODM MP Peter Kaluma for explaining the intent behind the committee, saying its purpose was to ensure that victims were compensated promptly without being tied up in endless legal processes.
“Honourable Kaluma was right when he said legal processes alone might never deliver justice,” McOure said. “That’s why Baba sought a faster framework, one that acknowledges suffering beyond the limits of bureaucracy.”
He added that the ODM movement would continue pursuing the justice initiative as part of honouring Odinga’s memory.
“We forgive, but we do not forget,” he said. “Those who failed this mission must reflect on what it means to carry Baba’s burden.”
