NAIROBI, 16th June 2026 -The government’s proposal to compensate victims of protest-related violence with a predetermined Sh2 billion package has drawn sharp criticism from Siaya Governor James Orengo, who argues that human life cannot be reduced to a monetary formula.
In a press statement released to media houses on Tuesday 16th, Governor Orengo condemned what he termed a “disturbing formula” of State violence followed by financial settlement, warning that such an approach undermines constitutional protections of fundamental rights.
“The reparations program and the amount of Shs 2 billion is insufficient to compensate victims of human rights violations,” the statement read.
“President Ruto’s administration has reduced the sanctity of human life and dignity to a predetermined monetary figure and normalised State violence rather than preventing it.”
The governor’s concerns come as the government moves to operationalise the compensation framework amid public outrage over deaths and injuries linked to demonstrations.
The announcement follows a planned memorial by the ‘Gen Z nation’ scheduled for June 25, 2026, which Orengo described as a “rushed attempt to manage public outrage.”
Governor Orengo expressed alarm that the proposal sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the State to treat compensation as a substitute for accountability. He questioned whether the government intended to “perfect the compensation scheme before it perfects the protection of those rights.”
The statement singled out the recommendation that a life lost during demonstrations be compensated at a minimum of Sh2.5 million, describing this as an arbitrary valuation of human existence.
“Human life is invaluable. It cannot be quantified through an arbitrary administrative formula,” the governor said. “By prescribing a standard figure, the Government effectively signals that there is a financial value attached to the unlawful loss of life.”
Orengo argued that constitutional democracy cannot operate on the premise that rights may be violated today and compensated tomorrow. He called for thorough investigations, prosecution of perpetrators and institutional reforms before any compensation awards are made.
“Kenyans do not demand compensation in place of rights; they demand protection of those rights in the first instance,” the statement said.
“Rights are not for sale, human life is not a budget item and constitutional freedoms must never be reduced to a compensation schedule.”
The governor’s critique underscores growing concerns that the compensation framework may legitimise excessive force by attaching financial value to human life rather than preventing violations through accountability measures.
