Ruto nominates Lorionokou, Wahome for ORPP; Onganga picked for KNCHR
Lorionokou and Wahome were selected from a group of ten candidates who had been shortlisted for the two positions
President William Ruto has nominated John Cox Lorionokou to serve as the new Registrar of Political Parties and Agatha Wanjiku Wahome as the Assistant Registrar, following a list of recommendations presented by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The announcement was made on Friday by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, who said the appointments were made in line with the constitutional role of the President.
Lorionokou and Wahome were selected from a group of ten candidates who had been shortlisted for the two positions.
The PSC had earlier named those shortlisted for the Registrar post, including Ali Abdullah Surrar, who is currently serving in an acting capacity, Sophia Sitati, Geoffrey Obonyo, Everlyne Koiyan, Alloys Ndege, Mercy Wambua, Dr Manana Rodgers, Rahma Jillo, Lorionokou, and Florence Tabu Birya.
The interviews for this position were scheduled to take place on August 11, 2025, at the PSC offices on Harambee Avenue in Nairobi, between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm.
The Assistant Registrar post also drew ten shortlisted applicants: Seth Onyango, Simon Nyamolo, Josephine Ergaoe, Chebet Koske, Julius Cheche, Peter Muthui, Agatha Wahome, Mohammed Abdullahi Abdi, Robert Borter, and Gilbert Opanga.
The vacancy was announced a few weeks after Sophia Sitati was named Acting Registrar following the exit of Ann Nderitu, who was appointed as a Commissioner at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a separate nomination, the President has proposed Claris Awour Onganga for the position of Chairperson at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
Her name has been submitted to the National Assembly for vetting. This comes after a selection panel recommended her for the role through Gazette Notice No. 4651 dated April 11, 2025.
Onganga's nomination follows the withdrawal of Duncan Oburu Ojwang, who had been appointed on August 13, 2025. In a letter to Parliament, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said Ojwang had “respectfully” turned down the offer, citing personal reasons and a potential conflict of interest.
Wetang’ula then directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to stop the vetting and asked the Clerk to notify the appointing authority of the development.
All three nominations have now been forwarded to the National Assembly for approval as required by law.
