North Rift Regional Office

Civic Education Session at the Eldoret Main Prison

NORRO Regional Coordinator Kibet Kurgat engaged in a Civic Education session at the Eldoret Main Prison (Oct 2017)

Civic Education session at the Ngeria Farm Prison in Uasin Gishu County

KNCHR Officer,Gatambia Ndungu engaged in a Civic Education session at the Ngeria Farm Prison in Uasin Gishu County

Discussion with Community Conservancy representatives of Turkana County on Business and Human Rights Issues

KNCHR officers having a discussion with community Conservancy representatives of Turkana county on Business and Human Rights issues affecting the community members.

Address Issues of human rights violations and evictions on the Sengewer Community.

Public forum at Embobut forest to address issues of human rights violations and evictions on the Sengewer community.

Introduction

The North Rift Regional Office (NORRO) was set up in 2007 to address human rights concerns in the North Rift. It covers a geographical scope of 8 counties. These counties are Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia. The regional office is situated in Kitale town and is tasked with implementing the KNCHR mandate of protection, promotion and monitoring of human rights in the region through the application of various strategies in enhancing the realization of the human rights concerns that are specific to the citizens in the North Rift.

The Regional Office focuses on among others, labour issues, matters of access to justice, land rights, children and family rights, mining and extractive industries. The office also lends technical support in the policy and legislative processes in the counties besides promoting institutional reforms in the security and penal sectors. In empowering citizens to be able to effectively claim their rights, the office conducts various thematic trainings to citizens, institutions and grassroots CSOs.

Key Focus Areas

Complaints and investigation

The Office carries out field investigations on thematic human rights issues within the North Rift Region and advises the Commission on appropriate options for redress.

Public Education & Training

The Regional Office undertakes trainings of both State and non-State actors, talk shows in the local radio stations, dissemination of IEC materials, public awareness forums, and exhibition in fairs and open days.

Supporting CSOs and HRDs

Supporting and strengthening of civil society space across the 6 counties. Hosts CSO network providing them with a space to dialogue, engage, synergize and innovate towards promoting human rights

Institutional reforms

Monitoring and inspection visits to prison facilities and police station to ensure that these facilities are in tandem with national and international human rights standards.

Redress

The office promotes access to justice through Public Interest Litigation and application of ADR mechanism such as Mediation, Negotiation and Arbitration.

Business and Human Rights

NORRO engages with the public, the business sector, civil society and the government at both national and county levels to address violations arising from the operations of businesses and the extractive industries.