Ruto proposes Claris Awuor as KNCHR chair days after previous nominee rejected offer
By Luke Oluoch, August 15, 2025President William Ruto has nominated Claris Awuor Onganga for the chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) role.
The appointment comes a couple of days after Duncan Ojwang, the previous nominee for the chairperson role, declined the appointment.
Onganga’s appointment forms part of the executive nominations and redeployment undertaken on Friday, August 15, 2025, by the head of state as part of optimising performance and enhancing service delivery, as outlined in the Administration’s Manifesto under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Onganga’s names will now be forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting.
Legal expert
Onganga, who holds a Master of Law in Democracy and Governance from the University of Nairobi (2010), boasts an extensive career in law, where she has expertise in the human rights realm.
Until her appointment, she was the Human Rights Specialist at the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nairobi, a position she held for five years.
She has also worked with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA) as the deputy executive director and head of programs.
She has served as the Human Rights Specialist at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
If approved by the National Assembly, Onganga will now take the helm of the human rights body after Ojwang declined his appointment by the Head of State by writing a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Ojwang declines appointment
In a communication released by the National Assembly of Kenya on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, said that he had received a letter from Ojwang “respectfully” turning down the offer, citing personal reasons and a perceived conflict of interest.
“The Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, has received a letter from Dr. Duncan Oburu Ojwang, declining his nomination as Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR),” a post on Parliament’s Facebook page read.
The KNCHR chair position became vacant following the death of Chairperson Roseline Odede on January 3, 2024.