By Ongaga Ongaga
A coalition representing victims and survivors of state violence has accused a government compensation panel of unfairly excluding victims of abductions and enforced disappearances from a proposed compensation framework.
The Coalition of Victims and Survivors Against State Violence (CVSSV) said the omission of the victims from the compensation plan was “unjust and unacceptable” and called for the immediate publication of the full list of beneficiaries ahead of the June 25 anniversary commemorations.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition expressed outrage at a compensation process being overseen by a panel chaired by Prof. Makau Mutua, claiming that families affected by abductions, torture and enforced disappearances had been left out.
“This omission is not a mere administrative oversight. It amounts to the deliberate exclusion of eligible victims,” the coalition said.
The group argued that families whose loved ones were abducted, forcibly disappeared or remain unaccounted for have endured years of suffering and should be included in any reparations programme.
According to the coalition, none of the 35 documented cases of enforced disappearances and 135 cases involving freedom from torture have been included in the first phase of compensation payouts.
“Justice cannot be compartmentalised. Victims cannot be ranked according to political convenience,” the statement said. “Every victim of state violence deserves equal recognition, equal dignity and equal redress.”
The coalition demanded the immediate inclusion of victims of abductions and enforced disappearances in the compensation framework and urged the panel to fully implement recommendations contained in a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
It also called for the publication of the complete list of intended beneficiaries to allow public scrutiny and verification.
The statement was released on the eve of the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 protests, which the coalition described as a defining moment in Kenya’s struggle for justice and accountability.
The group said the anniversary would be used to honour those who lost their lives, suffered injuries, experienced enforced disappearances or were subjected to arrests and other forms of state violence while exercising their constitutional rights.
“This anniversary is not merely about remembering the dead. It is about honouring their courage, standing in solidarity with survivors, demanding justice and accountability and reaffirming the values for which so many Kenyans sacrificed,” the coalition stated.
The coalition also raised concerns over alleged attempts to intimidate victims and survivors planning to participate in commemorative activities, insisting that peaceful remembrance is protected by the Constitution.
“Commemoration is not a crime. Remembering those who were killed, disappeared, tortured, abducted or injured is not an act of provocation. It is a fundamental constitutional right,” the statement said.
The group further alleged that government-sponsored individuals could be deployed to infiltrate demonstrations and urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and document any incidents that may occur during the commemorations.
At the same time, CVSSV criticized the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing it of moving too slowly in investigating cases of police violence.
The coalition cited IPOA figures indicating that only six of 62 police killings recorded in 2024 had shown meaningful progress, while just one of 65 killings recorded in 2025 had reached court. It warned that continued delays risk entrenching impunity and eroding public confidence in accountability institutions.
The coalition called on all Kenyans to participate peacefully in the June 25 commemorations and to continue demanding justice, accountability and reparations for victims of state violence.
