President William Ruto has nominated Claris Awuor Onganga as the new Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), following the withdrawal of earlier nominee Duncan Oburu Ojwang. The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) has been directed to prioritize her vetting despite the ongoing parliamentary recess.

• The KNCHR Chairperson’s position became vacant after the death of Roseline Odhiambo Odede in January.
• Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, affirmed that JLAC must complete the vetting and submit a report within 28 days, as stipulated by law.
• The parliamentary recess is from August 20 to September 23, 2025, but JLAC is expected to conduct approval hearings promptly.