Duncan Oburu Ojwang has declined his nomination for the position of Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
His name had been submitted to the National Assembly by President William Ruto for approval hearings.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula Wednesday, confirmed receiving a letter from Dr. Ojwang, declining his nomination citing personal reasons and a perceived conflict of interest.
Following the development, the vetting process scheduled by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has been suspended, with the appointing authority now expected to nominate a new candidate.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Samwel Njoroge, will formally notify the appointing authority to enable the President to propose a new nominee for the position.
A lawyer by profession, Dr. Ojwang has extensive experience in national and international human rights law, policy, and constitutional matters.
Mandate
KNCHR is an independent National Human Rights Institution created by Article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and established through the KNCHR Act of Parliament (the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2011).
It is the state’s lead agency in the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Commission plays two key broad mandates: to act as a watchdog over the Government in the area of human rights and to provide key leadership in moving the country towards a human rights state.
The main goal of KNCHR is to investigate and provide redress for human rights violations, to research and monitor the compliance of human rights norms and standards, to conduct human rights education, to facilitate training, campaigns and advocacy on human rights, as well as collaborate with other stakeholders in Kenya.
