Kenya: Court Orders Govt to Set Aside Millons for Torture, Abduction Victims

What the report says

A Kenyan court has ordered the government to ring-fence Sh105 million from a compensation fund for people alleging torture, enforced disappearances and abductions, while it reviews a legal challenge to a verification system. The development was reported by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica from Nairobi on 12 August 2026.

According to the report, Justice Gregory Mutai issued conservatory orders after a petition questioned the authentication process introduced under Presidential Proclamation No. 1 of 2026. The disputed mechanism is intended to identify and verify victims eligible for compensation. The court barred the first and second respondents from using or enforcing that process until the petition is resolved.

At the same time, the judge allowed the wider compensation scheme for other victims to continue, provided the specified amount is reserved first. The order means the Sh105 million must remain available for those linked to enforced disappearances, torture and abductions while the case proceeds.

The case matters because it temporarily pauses one part of the government’s vetting system while protecting funds that may be owed to victims of alleged human rights abuses. In general, compensation and verification disputes can shape how quickly governments pay claims and who is ultimately recognized as eligible, though the court’s final position will depend on the pending petition.