Blow To Ruto As KEY Compensation Panel Member Quits
Amnesty International Kenya’s Executive Director, Irungu Houghton, has resigned from the Panel of Experts on Compensation for Demonstrators and Public Protest Victims, effective immediately.
Houghton raised constitutional concerns following a High Court verdict that declared the panel unlawful.
In a resignation letter dated January 9, 2026, Houghton stated that his decision was prompted by the President’s intention to prolong the panel’s mandate by 180 days on January 5, 2026.
This is despite a decision issued by the Kerugoya High Court on December 4, 2025.
The court decided that the President lacked the constitutional authority to set up a parallel organization to verify, investigate, and pay protest casualties.
I have resigned from the Panel of Experts with immediate effect. My decision follows the President’s 5 Jan 2026 extension of the Panel’s mandate for a further 180 days despite the 4 Dec 2025 Kerugoya High Court ruling (HCCHRPET/E010/2025) mandating the @HakiKNCHR
— Irũngũ Houghton (@irunguhoughton) January 9, 2026
I urge all to… pic.twitter.com/LUQbdJlEXe
It affirmed that the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is solely responsible for carrying out this duty.
According to Houghton, the verdict profoundly impacted the panel’s legal basis and institutional legitimacy for continuous existence.
He stated that remaining on the panel would risk normalising a system that the court had clearly declared unlawful, undermining the KNCHR’s central position under the Constitution.
He also expressed concerns about being placed as an appellant in a December 15 application attempting to suspend the High Court order, claiming that this was done without his knowledge or approval.
Houghton stated that he had ceased his participation in the panel in September 2025 to await the court’s decision and did not take part in the application contesting the judgment.
He said the application was only communicated to panel members on January 8, 2026.
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Additionally, Houghton distanced himself from the decision to appeal the decision, claiming that it went against his publicly expressed belief that the panel ought to abide by the court’s decision in its entirety.
He reiterated that KNCHR is the constitutionally mandated body to advise the presidency on compensation for human rights violations arising from protests.
Houghton expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to efforts aimed at truth, justice, and reparations for victims of state violence during public demonstrations.
However, he said fidelity to the Constitution, the rule of law, and institutional accountability must take precedence.
Blow To Ruto As KEY Compensation Panel Member Quits
