Maina Kiai has been appointed chairperson of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) board of directors. This appointment comes as the KHRC is engaged in a legal challenge against the nomination of Dr. Duncan Ojwang’ to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).

Kiai, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, is a prominent human rights lawyer with deep roots in Kenya’s rights movement. He was the founding executive director of KHRC and served as the first chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) from 2003 to 2008.

During his tenure at KNCHR, Kiai earned a reputation for his bold and effective advocacy against corruption, impunity, and in favour of political reforms, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 post-election violence that resulted in thousands of deaths.

He succeeds Davinder Lamba, who led the commission through challenging periods, and will be supported by deputy chair Betty Okero.

In a statement on Thursday, KHRC expressed optimism for a renewed and fearless era of human rights defence under Kiai’s leadership. The organisation highlighted that his appointment comes at a time when governance abuses, fundamental rights violations, and widespread corruption threaten the nation and the region.

Accepting his new role, Kiai stated, “Kenya is under attack by a regime that fears its people. But we will not blink. I am committed to guiding KHRC to resist, expose, and push back against any force, whether the William Ruto administration or its supporters, that violates rights, freedoms, and the Constitution.”

Most recently, Kiai served as director of alliances and partnerships at Human Rights Watch. His extensive human rights work in Sierra Leone earned him the honorary title of paramount chief within the Mende community.

Earlier in his career, he served as the executive director of the International Council on Human Rights Policy, a Geneva-based think tank recognised for its research and policy recommendations. He also held key roles, including Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme (1999–2001) and Africa Director for the International Human Rights Law Group (now Global Rights) from 2001 to 2003.