The human rights compensation process will continue for at least another three months after President William Ruto extended the mandate of the panel overseeing claims by victims of violations.
The Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Human Rights Violations will serve for an additional 90 days from September 4, 2026, under a gazette notice issued on Friday by Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei.
The extension comes after the panel had already processed 680 legitimate claims and paid Sh896.1 million to victims by August, including people affected by demonstrations and public protests.
The panel was first appointed on March 6, 2026, through Gazette Notice No. 3115, and will now continue with its responsibilities for a further three months.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency the President has extended the term of the panel appointed vide Gazette Notice No. 3115 of 6th March, 2026, for a further period of ninety (90) days, with effect from the 4th September, 2026," the notice reads.
The extension comes as the government continues implementing a compensation programme for people who suffered human rights violations, including victims of demonstrations and public protests.
The panel is headed by constitutional scholar Prof Makau Mutua, with Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Chairperson Claris Awuor Ogangah-Onyango serving as vice-chairperson.
Its duties include helping to verify and group eligible victims, confirming information obtained from State institutions and making recommendations on the form of compensation that should be provided.
It is also required to consult victims, their families, civil society organisations and other stakeholders during the process.
The consultations are intended to support a compensation exercise that takes into account the concerns of affected people while ensuring the process remains open and inclusive.
The government set aside Sh2 billion for the compensation programme in June after receiving a report from KNCHR.
At the time, KNCHR Chairperson Claris Ogangah said the commission had received 1,937 claims involving human rights violations committed between 2017 and 2025.
The commission had verified 1,101 of those cases when the report was presented.
The compensation programme covers various forms of harm, including deaths, injuries, economic losses, sexual offences and violations involving uniformed officers.
Following the verification exercise, the panel began processing claims from victims who had met the requirements for compensation.
By August, 680 legitimate claims had been processed, with Sh896.1 million already disbursed to beneficiaries.
The extension also follows a court decision that affected the relationship between the panel's work and the constitutional role of KNCHR.
In December 2025, the High Court in Kerugoya affirmed the commission's mandate to develop a national reparations framework for victims of human rights violations.
KNCHR later carried out consultations involving victims, survivors, State agencies and other stakeholders as it worked on the framework.
The commission presented the national reparations framework and its report to President Ruto in June.
The move formed part of the wider process of developing a framework for addressing human rights violations and compensation claims.
Meanwhile, on August 11, 2026, Justice Gregory Mutai directed the government to set aside Sh105 million from the compensation fund for victims of enforced disappearances, torture and abductions.
The order followed a petition challenging the exclusion of the group from the compensation process, with the money to be preserved as the case awaits determination.
The fresh 90-day term will allow the panel to remain involved in the processing of claims as the government continues paying verified victims and working on other measures linked to human rights violations.