Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has found herself at the center of a heated national debate following her acceptance of an appointment as the vice chairperson of a presidential Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Protests and Riots. Odhiambo took her Oath of Office for this role on September 4, 2025. The 19-member panel, chaired by Prof Makau Mutua, was established through a presidential proclamation on August 6 and formalized by a gazette notice on August 25/26, with the primary mandate of overseeing reparations for those affected by protests and riots.

Defending her decision, Odhiambo described the appointment as a crucial opportunity to advocate for "a revolutionary shift in victim reparations" and to actively pursue justice. She assured her constituents that her acceptance did not signify a betrayal of trust, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rule of law and fundamental human rights. Pledging transparency, Odhiambo stated, "Faith Odhiambo will not let you down! The bloodshed by our comrades must not be in vain. No, I will not take any prisoners in this cause," promising timely updates on victims’ cases.

However, her decision has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, with many Kenyans accusing her of betraying the cause of justice and questioning her participation. Online sentiments, like those expressed by Elly Okinyo on X, labeled her involvement as "complete betrayal." Another X user, Otieno Mak’Oluoch, dismissed the panel as yet "another hollow initiative," drawing parallels with other government programs perceived as ineffective.

The controversy escalated with several prominent lawyers demanding Odhiambo's resignation from her LSK presidency. Advocates like Levi Munyeri argued that the panel's mandate rightfully belongs to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and that Odhiambo's acceptance weakens the LSK’s statutory functions and its ability to hold the state accountable. Paul Kiragu Wathuta further contended that President William Ruto lacked the authority to establish such a panel without involving the Public Service Commission (PSC), questioning how the LSK could defend the Constitution if its leader participates in an unconstitutional body. Francis Wanjiku warned that Odhiambo’s move risked aligning the society with the executive and called for an extraordinary general meeting to allow members to decide on her continued leadership amid perceptions of compromised independence. Notably, the panel’s chair, Makau Mutua, is also reportedly facing a court challenge to his appointment.

Beyond the constitutional concerns, critics also raised questions about the government's priorities. A page under the name Hakuna Matata on X asked, "How can victims be compensated without perpetrators being held accountable? Why is government compensating if it does not take responsibility for their deaths?" Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru criticized the government’s pattern of high spending on advisors without delivering on promises, suggesting the panel was another instance of misallocated resources.

In contrast to the widespread criticism, Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama urged Kenyans to give the task force a chance. Speaking on Spice FM, Kanjama dismissed claims that the team was designed to shield the government, asserting that a presidential initiative to expedite compensation should be "celebrated."

This is not the first time Faith Odhiambo has been offered a State House appointment. In 2024, she notably turned down President Ruto’s offer to join a task force auditing public debt, with the LSK council, then through Secretary Florence Muturi, declaring such a body unconstitutional and asserting that only the Auditor General possessed the legal mandate. This earlier rejection highlights a previous stance by Odhiambo and the LSK on constitutional propriety regarding government appointments. Furthermore, her consistent commitment to justice is evidenced by her active role during the Gen-Z protests, where she provided support for detained individuals, rushed to courts, and attended post-mortem examinations for victims, as well as previously calling on international bodies to demand accountability for police brutality in other cases.

The ongoing controversy underscores a significant conflict between the pursuit of victim reparations and the principles of constitutional governance and institutional independence, challenging the LSK's role in upholding the rule of law while its president engages with a government-appointed panel under scrutiny.