President William Ruto has announced plans to compensate victims of police brutality by June, even as the 10-point agenda between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) reaches 80 per cent implementation.
Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting attended by 253 MPs from the two parties, Dr Ruto said Sh2 billion has been allocated in the supplementary budget to facilitate reparations for families of those killed and those injured during protests.
Compensation of protest victims was one of the key items in the 10-point agenda signed on March 7, 2025 between Dr Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, who died in October last year. The President said court processes had delayed the implementation of the plan.
“It is our belief that unless something else happens, we should be able to conclude this exercise by June. While life cannot be compensated, we can provide support to victims’ families. We have already identified victims from as far back as the 2017 demonstrations, allocated resources including Sh2 billion for compensation, and established a court-mandated panel to expedite the process,” said Dr Ruto.
A joint communiqué read by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed said the meeting noted significant progress in implementing the agenda.
“The joint PG noted with satisfaction that approximately 80 per cent of the agreed commitments have been implemented,” said Mr Mohammed.
He added that the meeting also acknowledged progress in stabilising the economy and addressing the cost of living through measures such as reduced inflation, continued fertiliser subsidies for farmers, expanded health coverage, strengthened anti-corruption efforts and the revival of stalled road projects.
The meeting marked the first anniversary since the signing of the 10-point agreement between UDA and ODM.
ODM leader Oburu Oginga dismissed claims that the broad-based government should have ended on March 7, 2026, saying the arrangement predates the agreement.
He noted that the President had already initiated the broad-based government in July 2024 when he nominated ODM members to Cabinet, including John Mbadi (National Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Hassan Joho (Mining) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives).
“March 7, which was slated as the date for the making of a report, was not the end of the broad-based government. The broad-based arrangement goes until 2027,” said Dr Oginga.
Meanwhile, the two parties have formed an eight-member technical committee to spearhead a pre-election coalition roadmap ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Each party will nominate four members, with UDA Executive Director Nichodemous Bore and ODM Executive Director Oduor Ongwen serving as joint secretaries.
Mr Mohammed said the technical team will develop a shared policy agenda and priorities to guide the formation of a coalition framework for the 2027 elections.
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