A vocal lawyer who was part of President William Ruto’s defense team in the 2022 election petition at the Supreme Court, Duncan Ojwang, is among the shortlisted candidates for the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
In a notice on Tuesday, May 2025, the KNCHR selection panel revealed his name among the six candidates to be interviewed for the position of KNCHR Chairperson.
“Pursuant to Article 59 of the Constitution as read with Section 11[4] of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act (No. 14 of 2011), the Selection Panel invited applications from qualified persons to be considered for nomination for appointment as the Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The Selection Panel considered all the applications and shortlisted the following candidates to appear for an interview,” read part of the notice.
Besides Ojwang, the other five people shortlisted by the KNCHR selection panel include:
1. Victor Okoth Ogwang Lando
2. Selina Amsugut Iseme
3.Claris Awour Ogangah
4.Edward Katama Ngeywa
5.Michael Peter Otieno Okelloh
Duncan Ojwang Among Shortlisted Candidates for KNCHR Chair Position
According to the notice, the shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Harambee House, 12th Floor Boardroom, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi, at the date and time indicated on the schedule.
The candidates must bring originals of the following documents:
(a) National Identity Card/Passport.
(b) Academic and Professional Certificates and Transcripts.
(c) Any other supporting documents and testimonials.
(d) Valid clearances from the following bodies:
- Higher Education Loans Board;
- Kenya Revenue Authority;
3. registered Credit Reference Bureau;
4.Directorate of Criminal Investigations (Police Clearance);
(e) Self-Declaration Form duly stamped by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
(f) Recommendation letter from the relevant professional bodies and associations (where applicable).
Also Read: Dr. Duncan Ojwang Profile: Education, Family, Career and Net Worth
Additionally, members of the public have been invited to provide any credible information of interest relating to any of the shortlisted candidates (through sworn affidavits) to the Chairperson, Selection Panel for the Nominees for Appointment as Chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Harambee House, 12th Floor Boardroom, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi, or emailed to [email protected] to be received on or before 5:00 p.m., May 26, 2025. The information should be addressed as follows:
The Chairperson,
Selection Panel for the nominees for Appointment as Chairperson,
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
P.O. Box 30050-00100
NAIROBI
Profile of the lawyer
Dr. Duncan Ojwang is a lawyer with extensive theoretical and practical experience at the international and national levels in human rights law, policy, and constitution.
Previously, Ojwang served as the Dean of the School of Law at Africa Nazarene University, a position he held for over six years from 2017 to January 2023.
He has more than ten years of experience teaching law at both the University of Nairobi and Africa Nazarene University, covering subjects such as Environmental Law, Law and Development, Human Rights, and Constitutional Law.
Some of his notable achievements in his career include being part of the state delegation and working as a researcher for the International Criminal Court case against Deputy President William Ruto, who faced charges of crimes against humanity.
At one point, he worked as an African Union Election Observer. The lawyer was also part of the team that drafted the report of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which was spearheaded by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Also Read: KNCHR Chairperson Roseline Odede is dead.
Ojwang has also participated in the mediation talks of South Sudan (Tumaini mediation) where South Sudan discussed their first democratic election.
Dr. Ojwang holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Indiana University, a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Human Rights Law from Indiana University School of Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy (SJD) in Law and Policy, focusing on Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Arizona’s James Rogers College of Law.
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