Four activists have filed a petition in the High Court of Kenya to challenge President William Ruto’s decision to form a panel for compensating victims of demonstrations.

• The activists argue that President Ruto lacks the constitutional authority to establish the “Presidential Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests” through a presidential proclamation on August 6, 2025, and Gazette Notice No. 12002 of August 25, 2025, claiming it usurps roles of existing independent constitutional commissions.
• The petitioners are dr. magare-gikenyi b., eliud karanja matindi, philemon abuga nyakundi, and dishon keroti mogire.
• They are seeking declarations that the panel and its recommendations are unconstitutional, and a judicial review order to quash the Gazette Notice, further requesting that President Ruto be held personally liable under Article 226(5) for the unlawful creation of the panel and ordered to refund any public money spent.