The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has extended an urgent appeal to individuals who have experienced human rights abuses to present their applications for the inaugural list of recipients in the national reparations and compensation scheme.
The commission’s announcement, issued on Friday, April 3, indicates that today marks the cutoff date for individuals seeking inclusion in the initial beneficiary roster.
“Today is the final day for individuals affected by human rights violations wishing to be considered in the first group of reparations recipients, with submissions required within 60 days from March 6, 2026,” the notice stated.
Interested parties can file their submissions at the KNCHR Head Office situated on the first floor of CVS Plaza, Kasuku Lane, off Lenana Road, or via the official website, email, SMS, WhatsApp, toll-free line, or telephone.
Additional support is available through regional offices located in Nyahururu, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kitale, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, and a satellite office in Kajiado.
The commission has verified at least 1,224 victims of human rights violations as part of continuous efforts to establish a comprehensive national framework for compensation and reparations.
This announcement follows an instruction from President William Ruto, who, through Gazette Notice No. 3114 dated March 6, 2026, directed the Commission to submit a report containing the Reparations Framework within sixty days, in accordance with Article 254(2) of the Constitution.
KNCHR Chairperson Claris Ogangah reported that the Commission has developed a working document facilitating consultations with victims, government agencies, civil society organisations, and other relevant parties.
“After receiving contributions from stakeholders, a draft Reparations Framework will be created and subsequently subjected to broad public participation as mandated by the Constitution,” she explained.
The comprehensive list encompasses various severe human rights violations, including unlawful executions, torture, kidnappings and forced disappearances, forced evictions, sexual and gender-based violence, property loss, and livelihood deprivation.
The Commission is presently evaluating the applications to confirm they satisfy the specified eligibility requirements.
Ogangah highlighted that the Commission has been unable to conduct nationwide outreach campaigns as originally planned due to inadequate financial resources.
She called upon the National Treasury to promptly release the parliamentary-approved funds, enabling the Commission to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
Individuals impacted by human rights violations, including those resulting from public demonstrations, are encouraged to provide supporting documentation such as P3 forms, medical certificates, OB reports, post-mortem examinations, witness statements, and other pertinent materials.
The Commission has indicated that its facilities will remain operational during the public holiday to assist claimants.