Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Encyclopedia
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is an autonomous national human rights institution established by a Kenyan Act of Parliament in 2002. KNCHR became operational in July 2003. Following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in August 2010, the Commission was transformed into a constitutional body under the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act 2011.
Its main mission is to investigate and provide redress to human rights
violations in Kenya
, to research and monitor the compliance of human rights norms and standards, human rights education
and training and campaigns, advocate, and collaborate with other stakeholders in Kenya. The KNCHR has six programmes to implement its strategic goals.
The KNCHR commissioners are appointed by the President of Kenya after nominations by Parliament. The current Chairperson is Florence Simbiri-Jaoko, and there are nine other commissioners. A Secretariat headed by the Commission Secretary runs the KNCHR's programmatic areas. The mandate of the KNCHR is to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya. Although established by Government, the KNCHR is independent.
The KNCHR is a watchdog body. It monitors Government institutions, carries out investigations on alleged violations, and in appropriate cases provides redress to those whose rights have been violated. KNCHR is also an advisory body. The Commission gives advice to the Kenyan Government on how to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. It also monitors the enactment of legislation in Kenya to ensure they are human rights compliant, and recommends for review of older legislation for the same purpose.
The KNCHR's main office is in Nairobi
, with two regional offices, one in Wajir
in Kenya's remote North Eastern province and another in Kapenguria
, in the Kenyan Rift Valley Province launched in September 2007.
-approved Paris Principles
on the establishment and functioning of independent national human rights institutions. The National Commission has been accredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
(ICC), which is based in Geneva
at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as an ‘A status’ institution which means that the Commission has been found to be in compliance with the Principles. The KNCHR is a member of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
(NANHRI), the ICC's regional grouping for Africa.
Its main mission is to investigate and provide redress to human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
violations in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, to research and monitor the compliance of human rights norms and standards, human rights education
Human rights education
Human rights education is the teaching of the history, theory, and law of human rights in schools and educational institutions, as well as outreach to the general public.-Human rights education and the United Nations:...
and training and campaigns, advocate, and collaborate with other stakeholders in Kenya. The KNCHR has six programmes to implement its strategic goals.
The KNCHR commissioners are appointed by the President of Kenya after nominations by Parliament. The current Chairperson is Florence Simbiri-Jaoko, and there are nine other commissioners. A Secretariat headed by the Commission Secretary runs the KNCHR's programmatic areas. The mandate of the KNCHR is to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya. Although established by Government, the KNCHR is independent.
The KNCHR is a watchdog body. It monitors Government institutions, carries out investigations on alleged violations, and in appropriate cases provides redress to those whose rights have been violated. KNCHR is also an advisory body. The Commission gives advice to the Kenyan Government on how to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. It also monitors the enactment of legislation in Kenya to ensure they are human rights compliant, and recommends for review of older legislation for the same purpose.
The KNCHR's main office is in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, with two regional offices, one in Wajir
Wajir
Wajir is a town in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is the capital of Wajir County.-History:A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Madanle, a semi-legendary people of high stature, who are associated with the Somali Ajuuraan. A. T...
in Kenya's remote North Eastern province and another in Kapenguria
Kapenguria
Kapenguria is a town lying north east of Kitale on the A1 road in Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the West Pokot District. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 and a total population of 56,000 ....
, in the Kenyan Rift Valley Province launched in September 2007.
International status
The operations of the KNCHR are guided by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
-approved Paris Principles
Paris Principles
The Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris on 7-9 October 1991. They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General...
on the establishment and functioning of independent national human rights institutions. The National Commission has been accredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, sometimes shortened to the International Coordinating Committee , is a global network of national human rights institutions - administrative bodies set up to promote, protect and monitor human rights in a given country...
(ICC), which is based in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as an ‘A status’ institution which means that the Commission has been found to be in compliance with the Principles. The KNCHR is a member of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions is one of four regional groupings within the global network, the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
(NANHRI), the ICC's regional grouping for Africa.