National Assembly clears Claris Awuor Ogangah to head KNCHR
Claris Awuor Ogangah previously served as Deputy Country Representative and Human Rights Specialist at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Kenya).
The National Assembly has approved Claris Awuor Ogangah as the new Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), marking a key step in strengthening human rights oversight in the country.
Awuor's approval follows the death of former Chairperson Roseline Odhiambo Odede on January 3, 2025, after a short illness.
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KNCHR Vice-Chairperson Raymond Nyeris said the commission expressed its deep sense of loss, describing Odede’s passing as a significant blow to both the human rights agency and the nation at large.
The legislators have now approved Awuor, hailing her extensive experience in human rights law and urging her to uphold citizens’ freedoms while maintaining national stability. Awuor appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) on August 28, 2025, for vetting in line with Article 250(2) of the Constitution and Section 11 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7F.
She previously served as Deputy Country Representative and Human Rights Specialist at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Kenya).
JLAC Chairperson George Murugara welcomed the approval, saying, “It is vital that this House endorses a nominee who has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and expertise to steer the Commission forward on matters of human rights.”
Homa Bay Town MP George Kaluma also supported the appointment but cautioned against neglecting the balance between freedoms and national stability.
“As a country, we have one of the most progressive constitutions, with Chapter Four safeguarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens. I challenge the nominee to ensure that, while defending these freedoms, the stability of the state is not compromised,” he said.
The National Assembly has also approved John Cox Lorionokou as Registrar of Political Parties and Agatha Wanjiku Wahome as Assistant Registrar. The approval followed a report by Murugara on the nominees’ vetting, conducted on August 28, 2025, under Section 34A and the Sixth Schedule of the Political Parties Act, as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
Presenting the Committee’s findings, Murugara said, “The approval hearings were exhaustive. We were able to ascertain the nominees’ academic qualifications, proven knowledge, and relevant experience in their fields.”
JLAC Vice-Chairperson and Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse emphasised the constitutional significance of the appointments, noting that the decisions reflect the dictates of the Constitution.
“What we are doing today is a dictate of the Constitution. Article 4(2) declares that Kenya is a multi-party democracy, to be exercised in line with the national values and principles under Article 10,” he said.
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