Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed an 18-member panel of experts to oversee the compensation of victims of recent protests. The panel is led by Professor Makau Mutua, with Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo serving as deputy chair. Other notable members include Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton and former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto. The panel comprises lawyers, human rights activists, and church representatives and is tasked with facilitating, verifying, and coordinating payments to affected individuals. It is expected to submit its report within 120 days. Concurrently, the Kenyan government has engaged the US lobbying firm Continental Strategy LLC, led by an associate of former US President Donald Trump, under a $2.1 million annual contract to lobby US policymakers ahead of a planned meeting between President Ruto and Trump in Washington. The firm will also be reimbursed for expenses such as travel and accommodation. This move has drawn criticism, with four activists filing a court petition challenging the legality of Ruto's appointment of the compensation panel, arguing that the president lacks the authority to form such a body. The government, through Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, has defended the hiring of the US lobbying firm as standard practice that will benefit Nairobi.