Ruto nominates John Lorionokou as Registrar of Political Parties, Claris Onganga for KNCHR chair
The KNCHR nomination comes after Duncan Oburu Ojwang, who had been named Chairperson on August 13, 2025, declined the appointment.
President William Ruto has nominated John Cox Lorionokou as the Registrar of Political Parties and Agatha Wanjiku Wahome as the Assistant Registrar, following recommendations from the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The nominations were announced by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Friday, where he noted that they are in line with the President’s constitutional mandate.
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Last week, the PSC shortlisted 10 candidates for the Registrar position, including Ali Abdullah Surrar, the current Acting Registrar of Political Parties, Sophia Sitati, Geoffrey Obonyo, Everlyne Koiyan, Alloys Ndege, Mercy Wambua, Dr Manana Rodgers, Rahma Jillo, Lorionokou, and Florence Tabu Birya.
They were interviewed on August 11, 2025, at the PSC offices on Harambee Avenue.
The Assistant Registrar position also attracted 10 shortlisted candidates: Seth Onyango, Simon Nyamolo, Josephine Ergaoe, Chebet Koske, Julius Cheche, Peter Muthui, Agatha Wahome, Mohammed Abdullahi Abdi, Robert Borter, and Gilbert Opanga. The shortlisting came weeks after Sitati was named Acting Registrar following the departure of Ann Nderitu, who was appointed a Commissioner at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a separate nomination, the President has also forwarded the name of Claris Awour Onganga to the National Assembly for vetting for appointment as Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The move follows recommendations from the Selection Panel appointed through Kenya Gazette Notice No. 4651 of April 11, 2025.
The KNCHR nomination comes after Duncan Oburu Ojwang, who had been named Chairperson on August 13, 2025, declined the appointment.
In a letter to the National Assembly, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said Ojwang had “respectfully” turned down the offer, citing personal reasons and a perceived conflict of interest.
Wetang’ula directed the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to stop the vetting process and instructed the Clerk to inform the appointing authority.
The nominations have been sent to the National Assembly for consideration and approval as required by law.
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