President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) candidate Lawyer Roseline Odede for a plum post.
In a statement shared by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Wednesday, December 29, the Head of State nominated Odede to chair the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)
The lawyer was nominated alongside four other members for the human rights organisation's board.
They are Prof. Marion Mutugi Wanjiku, Raymond Plal Sang Nyeris, Sarah Talaso Bonaya and Dennis Nyongesa Wamalwa.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 42, I wish to convey a Message from His Excellency The President relating to nomination of persons for appointment to the Offices of the Chairperson and Members of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights," stated Muturi.
Muturi also directed the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to undertake the necessary approval hearings to vet the nominees for the roles.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2011, requires the National Assembly to undertake the exercise within twenty-eight (28) days.
"In this regard, the Committee should undertake approval hearings and submit their report within the Twenty-Eight (28) day period provided for in the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
"The Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs is required to notify the public and the nominee in good time. Thereafter, upon resumption of its sittings, the Committee is to undertake the necessary approval hearings and submit its report to the House before Tuesday, 15th February, 2022 to enable the House consider the proposed appointment within statutory timelines," added the speaker.
KNCHR is tasked with investigating and providing redress for human rights violations, researching and monitoring the compliance of human rights norms and standards as well as conducting human rights education and overseeing relevant training.
In July, Odede underwent an interview after making an application to fill the then advertised four commissioner posts at the IEBC.
She was the last to be interviewed of a total of 36 applicants at the time replace Commissioners Roselyn Akombe, Paul Kurgat, Margaret Mwachanya and Connie Maina who left the Commission after 2017 elections.
