In good faith: LSK boss bows out of Ruto's panel

Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo. [File, Standard]

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo on Monday crumbled under pressure and resigned from a panel appointed by President William Ruto to explore compensation of victims of protests.

Odhiambo said in a statement that she had formally sent her immediate resignation from the position of the vice chairperson of the panel of experts on compensation of victims of demonstrations and public protests.

Her letter was sent to the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

Although Odhiambo claimed that the panel's time-bound mandate will lapse before the High Court case filed by lawyer Levi Munyeri before the Kerugoya High Court, and an appeal the panel filed before the Court of Appeal to lift the orders are heard, Justice Kizito Magare yesterday directed that October 21, 2025 will be the hearing date and a judgment will be delivered on November 25, 2025.

In her statement, Odhiambo said the lifespan of the panel would be 120 days.

"My resignation from the panel takes cognisance of the crucial point at which Kenya finds itself in the quest for full constitutional implementation and lasting reform to our democratic context.

Rule of law

"This consequential moment for our country calls for all our rule of law institutions, especially the Law Society of Kenya, to remain unified and resolute in discharging the mandate bestowed upon us by law," said Odhiambo.

Other appointees in the panel include Ruto's constitutional affairs advisor Prof Makau Mutua, Amnesty International-Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton, former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, Dr John Olukuru, Rev Kennedy Barasa Simiyu, Naini Lankas, Dr Francis Muraya, Juliet Chepkemei, Pius Metto, Fatuma Kinsi Abass, and Raphael Anampiu.

Dr Duncan Ojwang, who earlier declined Ruto's nomination as chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, was also appointed as a member of the 18-member panel.

The panel will be supported by a technical team led by Richard Barno and Dr Duncan Ndeda, with Jerusah Mwathime Michael and Dr Raphael Ng'etich serving as joint secretaries.

Already, things were boiling in the LSK over Odhiambo's acceptance of the position.

Before the Court of Appeal, the panel's lawyer, Dudley Ochiel, told the court that the society was a no-show as it was not interested in the case.

From the reading of her statement, Odhiambo was pointing a finger at the Judiciary, saying that the ticking clock makes it impossible for her to "achieve the time-sensitive milestone".

She claimed that victims keep calling to express their pain for not appearing before the panel.

"While the clock runs down on the panel's lifetime, victims continue to reach out to me in total frustration over when their requests for an audience with the panel will be honoured. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to achieve the time-sensitive milestones I undertook to achieve, and I must therefore prioritise other avenues of responding to the plight of victims through the other positions I hold, especially the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya," her statement continued.

However, Court of Appeal Judges Kathurima M'inoti, Abida Ali Aroni and Sankale Ole Kantai, directed that the case should be heard today.

On September 30, 2025, Munyeri wrote to Odhiambo, accusing her of creating a conflict as LSK was not represented in the case.

The lawyer alleged that the LSK council had informed members that they had appointed lawyer Elisha Ongoya to act for the LSK.

He demanded that she resign within a week, or else he would pursue his bid to oust her.

"Be reminded that as advocates, we pride of and earn from the good name that the LSK enjoys in the eyes of the public, who are our clients. Kindly dignify the profession by choosing whether you want to serve as LSK president or as a member of the Compensation Panel. Manifestly, the two roles conflict. Out of great respect for you, I will shelve the motion to oust you as LSK president, hoping that you will resign from the Compensation Panel, within a week," the letter read.

Munyeri indicated that Odhiambo acknowledged receipt but did not respond to him.

Odhiambo was hailed as a heroine of the protests earlier in the year, mostly by young Kenyans, against government excesses including police killings, abductions and high cost of living.

She endured sleepless nights as her phone rang constantly with mothers, fathers, brothers, friends, and colleagues raising alarms about loved ones held in police cells, while others reported relatives killed, maimed, or missing.

In March 2024, Odhiambo, 38, made history as the 51st president of the society, and the second woman to hold the office after former Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.

Since then, she has become one of the most visible and outspoken figures in Kenya, fighting injustices and defending rights crusaders.

Yet, only months before her term ends, she faced accusations of betrayal. Critics argued she has abandoned the same people (protesters) she defended and wept with. From online to LSK members, she endured weeks of criticism. Odhiambo found herself under siege.

Munyeri was among those who were putting pressure on her to either choose LSK or the panel.

Tough questions

The Standard can exclusively reveal that the council received at least six letters from its members, asking tough questions on Odhiambo's decision to take up a role at the Panel.

The letters are from Kiroko Ndegwa, Wilberforce Akello, Eunice Ng'ang'a, Paul Kiragu Wathuta and Francis Wanjiku.

Wanjiku also wrote to the LSK council seeking a general meeting to debate whether Odhiambo can continue as LSK president while serving as vice-chair of the panel.

He anchored his argument on the legality of the panel, Odhiambo's prior rejection of another appointment and the image of the LSK.

"This perception, whether true or not, threatens to diminish the society's ability to mobilise support for its advocacy and to defend its role as a constitutional watchdog," Wanjiku wrote.

Odhiambo had hinted that she could resign from the panel if her work is frustrated.

"My loyalty is to the people of Kenya and my colleagues at LSK. Should my efforts be frustrated or undermined in any manner, I am prepared to do the honourable thing in fidelity with the rule of law and the Constitution," she said after being sworn.

At the same time, the panel attracted three cases.

Same appointment

While lawyer Lempaa Suyianka was before Justice Lawrence Mugambi, Nakuru-based surgeon Gikenyi Magare and United Kingdom-based Kenyan Eliud Matindi were before Justice Chacha Mwita over the same appointment.

According to them, the President Ruto overstepped his mandate as the issues he wants the panel to address can be sorted by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Inspector General of Police.

They also listed Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Victims Protection Agency, the Judiciary National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

"The President has not given the basis of the said action. The purported functions of the impugned panel are already allocated to bodies established under the Constitution. There is no residual, discretionary powers that the President can use to establish the impugned Panel. The President has therefore acted outside the bounds of the Constitution, in its violation, including under Articles 1(1), 2(2), 10(2) and 129," argued Gikenyi and Matindi.

In the meantime, Munyeri in the other hand filed his case before Justice Kizito Magare.

Others backed Odhiambo's decision.

Vocal Africa's Executive Director Hussein Khalid said the LSK president's role in the committee is a plus to victims in the search for justice.

"We have to take her word for this. Faith has been an integral member of the movement for many months now. What is clear is that compensation is one of the things we have been demanding," he said.

"What we were hoping would come before compensation is first justice, arrest of cops and all that. But if we can use the compensation task force appropriately, then maybe it can lead us to justice," he added, even as he acknowledged that compensation is "not satisfactory.''

Lawyer Cliff Ombeta said Odhiambo had done nothing wrong.

Nevertheless, on Monday she bowed out from the panel and opted to seek victims' justice in court.