Ruto Nominates Claris Awour Onganga to Lead Human Rights Commission

President William Ruto //Photo courtesy

President William Ruto has nominated a new candidate for the Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), days after Duncan Oburu Ojwang declined the appointment.

In a statement dated Friday, August 15, 2025, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed announced that the Head of State had nominated Claris Awour Onganga for consideration by the National Assembly.

“President William Ruto, in line with his constitutional mandate and acting on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, has today made the following nomination,” read part of the notice.

Her nomination follows the recommendation of the Selection Panel appointed via Kenya Gazette Notice No. 4651 of April 11, 2025.

“Ms. Claris Awour Onganga has been nominated for consideration by the National Assembly for appointment as Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR),” the statement added.

The State House Spokesperson further stated that the President has formally transmitted her nomination to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, as required by law.

Claris Awour Onganga was among six candidates shortlisted for the position of KNCHR Chairperson, a process that initially led to the nomination of Duncan Oburu Ojwang.

Her nomination comes just days after Ojwang declined the appointment, citing personal reasons and a perceived conflict of interest.

Ojwang communicated his decision in a letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. In turn, the Speaker formally informed the House of the nominee’s withdrawal on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday, August 12.

“Following the withdrawal, 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,” Wetang’ula said.

Claris Awour Onganga is a human rights specialist currently working at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nairobi, a role she has held since June 2020. Before that, she served as a Human Rights Advisor at the United Nations from June 2011 to June 2020, contributing to various UN initiatives.

She has also served as the Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes at the Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya (FIDA-Kenya). Claris holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Democracy and Governance from the University of Nairobi.