By Anderson Ojwang
The chairperson of the Kenya Commission of Human Rights (KNCHR) Mrs. Roselyn Adhiambo Odhiambo Odede is dead.
Mrs. Odede died on Friday 3rd after a short illness according to the press statement released by the Commission’s Vice Chairperson Dr Raymond Nyeris.
“Her untimely death is a big blow to the Commission and Nation at large, as a Commission we had the privilege of serving with Roseline Odede as the chairperson at the helm of KNCHR’ s leadership ,” he said.
During this period of mourning, we send our message of condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends and all those who knew Roseline. May the memories of her exceptional services bring comfort and strength in this difficult time,” he said.
Odede, an Advocate of the High Court, was the former Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board Vice-Chairperson.
Odede was instrumental in mentoring upcoming lawyers mostly from North Rift and top advocates from the region owe their success to her and her law firm.
In January 2017, then President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Wafula Chebukati as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), though it was rumoured that Odede had emerged top in the interviews, but was not selected.
“It is true that I was interviewed and emerged with the highest score.
I cannot tell why I was not picked, anything I state would be merely speculative. I am aware the chairperson is picked by the president from two names forwarded to him, so it is not a given that the top-performing candidate gets the job.
I am also a strong believer, and I asked God that if it is His will, I would get the opportunity, so I believe it was not God’s will for me,” she told The Standard in an interview in early 2017.
