The Law Society of Kenya has asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss an application seeking to lift High Court orders that suspended the operations of President William Ruto’s Victims’ Compensation Panel.
This is after an application was filed at the appellate court by President William Ruto's Senior Advisor, Makau Mutua, and the LSK President, Faith Odhiambo.
In a response filed by the LSK less than a day after Odhiambo resigned from the panel, after weeks of sustained pressure on her to exit the team, LSK argued that the appeal was premature and lacked a proper legal basis, saying the issues raised by the applicants were still pending before the court.
According to court papers, LSK maintained that the Court of Appeal should not be drawn into a matter that has yet to be concluded at the lower level.
Additionally, the court documents showed that the two appellants (Odhiambo and Makau) faulted the High Court for issuing orders on September 8, 2025, that halted the panel’s work.
Further, they claimed that the proceedings were under judgment, accusing the petitioner of failing to disclose key information, and alleged that one of the presiding judges was related to a petitioner in a connected matter.
However, LSK countered the allegations, maintaining that such ought to have been addressed by the High Court. Additionally, it noted that there was no made judgment to warrant an appeal.
''The appellants have not demonstrated how enforcement of the High Court’s orders would irreparably affect them,'' the society said in its written submissions.
The ruling on the matter is expected to determine whether President Ruto’s panel can resume its operations at a time when there is mounting legal and political scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the hearing of the application by the panel was aborted again after Court of Appeal Judge Sankale Ole Kantai withdrew over a conflict of interest.
The High Court in Kerugoya on Monday extended the conservatory orders barring the compensation panel from operation until October 21.
The now 14-member panel was mandated to spearhead the process of compensating victims of demonstrations and public protests across the country.
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