Odinga, Gachagua Demand Compensation for Protest Victims as Ruto Stays Silent at Madaraka Day

Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay on June 1, 2025, unfolded against a backdrop of national reconciliation efforts and persistent demands for justice concerning past grievances. 

While President William Ruto unveiled a new health insurance payment plan aimed at broadening access to healthcare, political figures, including opposition leader Raila Odinga and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, have intensified calls for compensation to victims of past protest-related violence and forced disappearances. The national holiday, commemorating Kenya's attainment of self-governance, has been leveraged by the Ruto administration to showcase its commitment to fostering national cohesion and tackling long-standing socio-economic challenges. 

The recent Memorandum of Understanding between the ruling UDA party and Odinga's ODM has been cited as evidence of this commitment. Nevertheless, unresolved issues surrounding accountability for past injustices and the equitable distribution of resources continue to fuel underlying tensions. Raila, addressing the nation at the Madaraka Day event, acknowledged President Ruto's recent apologies for past government actions. However, he argued that such gestures must be accompanied by tangible measures, specifically demanding the prompt compensation of families who suffered losses during the anti-government protests of 2023 and the more recent demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill.

The 2023 protests, triggered by disputes over the 2022 presidential election and escalating cost of living, resulted in numerous fatalities and significant economic disruption. Similarly, the 2024 demonstrations against the Finance Bill, which sought to introduce new taxes and levies, led to violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement, resulting in further casualties and injuries.

Adding to the complexity, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking at a church service in Lari, Kiambu County, criticized President Ruto's apology as "casual" and echoed Raila'scall for compensation. Gachagua specifically called on Ruto to meet with the parents of those killed during the Finance Bill protests and provide compensation to victims of forced disappearances.

Gachagua referenced the case of Billy Mwangi, a young Kenyan who disappeared toward the end of 2024, urging President Ruto to offer an apology and compensation to Mwangi's parents. The practice of forced disappearance has been a point of concern for international human rights organizations and local advocacy groups alike.

President Ruto however remained silent on the issue of compensation during the Madaraka Day celebrations. Ruto focused on unveiling the "Lipa SHA pole pole" initiative, a new payment model for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). This initiative aims to enhance health insurance accessibility for informal sector workers by allowing them to remit their annual contributions in flexible installments, whether monthly, weekly, or daily.

The initiative is a result of a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), mobile network operators, and financial institutions under the Hustler Fund framework. The Hustler Fund, launched in late 2022, is a government initiative aimed at providing affordable credit to small businesses and individuals.

President Ruto emphasized that the Lipa SHA pole pole initiative would address the long-standing challenges of irregular payments, especially among informal workers, and promote universal health coverage. 

The informal sector, which employs a significant portion of the Kenyan population, has often faced challenges in accessing formal healthcare due to irregular income streams and lack of structured employment benefits. Universal health coverage, a key pillar of the Kenyan government's development agenda, is intended to ensure that all citizens have access to quality healthcare services without facing financial hardship.