The Government established the independent human rights organisation in 2002. Its core mandate is to protect and promote human rights, and entrench a vibrant human rights’ culture founded on equality and social justice.

The Commission has key programmes — human rights advocacy and campaigns, complaints investigation, research policy and capacity building and strengthening of institutions.

In the new Constitution, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights – KNCHR will be called the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission KNHREC. Its commissioners and those of the National Commission on Gender and Development will become members of the new commission for their unexpired term. The KNCHR chairperson will be the chairperson of the new commission for the unexpired term, while the chairperson of the National Com-mission on Gender and Development will be the vice-chairperson for her unexpired term.