Update on the Development of a Framework for Compensation and Reparations to Victims of Human Rights Violations

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights

Press Statement: For Immediate Release                                            3rd April, 2026

Update on the Development of a Framework for Compensation and Reparations to Victims of Human Rights Violation

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) provides a further update on the ongoing development of a Framework for Compensation and Reparations to Victims of Human Rights Violations and the compilation of a list of victims of human rights violations.

Pursuant to its constitutional and statutory mandate, the Commission had called on survivors and families of victims to submit information by today, 3rd April 2026, so as to allow sufficient time for data verification. This would enable the KNCHR to provide a report and the reparations framework within the 60-day period set out in the Gazette Notice and Presidential Proclamation.

By 5:00pm today (3^rd April, 2026) the Commission had compiled a list of one thousand five hundred and sixty-three (1,563) victims and survivors which is undergoing verification in line with the eligibility criteria. The list encompasses various categories of gross human rights violations, key among them extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, evictions, loss of property and loss of livelihoods.

The Commission has made all attempts to reach out to Kenyans in various parts of the country, but with limited resources. The KNCHR has regrettably been unable to reach out to those victims who were unable to physically appear in our offices, majority of whom are poor, marginalized or vulnerable. Likewise, the Commission has been unable to conduct stakeholder outreach and public participation on the proposed Reparations Framework.

The KNCHR reiterates that reparations must be accessible to all and public participation is a constitutional imperative. In this regard, the KNCHR once again calls on the National Treasury to release the funds urgently to enable the Commission to undertake the verification process and to make good progress in the remaining phase of this exercise within the Gazette Notice period of sixty (60) days. The KNCHR reminds Parliament and the Executive of their primary obligation to ensure that the Commission is optimally resourced to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.

The Commission reminds Kenyans that the KNCHR continues to discharge its day-to-day mandate of protection and promotion of human rights and the deadline of 3rd April 2026 does not in any way stop the reporting of human rights violations. The Commission therefore calls on families of victims, survivors and members of the public to continue reporting any human rights violations to our offices since reparations remain a continuous process.