Lawyer Roseline Odede’s loopy signature sat authoritatively at the bottom of a three-page statement the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) posted online at 11.12pm on Monday night.
It was a terse statement, with some sections screaming out in bold font, especially where police excesses in dealing with that day’s protests were mentioned. No one knew it then, but that statement—which came on the day protests were held against abductions by suspected agents of the State—was the final public statement Odede would sign as the KNCHR chairperson.
Relentlessly defending human rights to the very end, Odede breathed her last on Friday. KNCHR Vice-Chairperson Raymond Nyeris said in a statement that she died after a short illness.
“Her untimely death is a big blow to the commission and nation at large,” he stated.
Having been admitted to the Bar in 1990, and having played various roles in the legal circles, Odede’s demise was mourned by President William Ruto, his deputy Kithure Kindiki, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Chief Justice Martha Koome, among others.
Some of the roles she played included being the vice-chairperson of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board and leadership positions at the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, East Africa Law Society, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) Kenya.
Heading KNCHR, a taxpayer-funded organisation created by the 2010 Constitution to check against rights abuses by the State, she saw the commission consistently call out President Ruto’s administration for its violent response to protests calling for better governance that began in June 2024.
“The KNCHR notes with great concern the demonstrations that had started off peacefully in Nairobi and other parts of the country were disrupted violently by police who unleashed terror on demonstrators,” she said of Monday’s protests, with the words beginning from “police” in bold for emphasis.
She took issue with the fact that some of the police vehicles sent to the protest sites had concealed number plates.
“Several vehicles did not have rear number plates. This is in contravention of the Malindi High Court ruling prohibiting police from concealing their identity while policing protests,” she wrote.
The statement ended by making five demands of the government, among them the unconditional release of those who had been arrested while peacefully protesting and the reprimanding of police officers who were involved in the brutality.
Ms Odede attended Moi Girls High School Eldoret, completing her studies there in 1984. She then proceeded to the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a degree in law in 1989. She joined the Kenya School of Law in 1990. She obtained her master’s in law from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in 2003.
“She was a formidable human rights champion and a distinguished campaigner for a more equal and fairer society,” President Ruto posted on X.
The President has, however, previously criticised the commission publicly, especially regarding the number of victims of police brutality during protests.
KNCHR’s numbers of those killed and abducted by the State have always been higher than those of the government.
Prof Kindiki posted on X that Ms Odede “was a profound and dedicated legal professional and an unapologetic advocate for the rights and freedoms of all people”.
“She believed in the transformative power of liberty and worked hard throughout her career for the improvement of democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” he wrote.
Mr Odinga said in a statement that Ms Odede was an accomplished lawyer, “a trailblazer in the protection of human rights, and a distinguished public servant”.
“As chairperson of (KNCHR), Roseline lifted the commission into respectability as a champion of the defence of fundamental civil liberties and the rights of the most vulnerable in our society. Under her tenure, the commission has earned a reputation for faithfulness to its mandate while maintaining impartiality in its conduct,” added Mr Odinga.
Justice Koome, who is also the chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice where Odede was a member, said the fallen lawyer left a rich legacy.
“Her exceptional contributions to promoting and protecting human rights and enhancing the administration of justice in Kenya will forever inspire us, and her legacy will continue to illuminate the path for future generations,” the CJ said in a statement.
Various organisations also paid tribute to Ms Odede, among them Amnesty International.
“Over the past few years, we have admired her courageous stand with diverse communities against human rights violations in Yala, Nyalenda, Nyando, Shakahola, and during the 2024 cost-of-living national protests,” stated
Amnesty International Kenya chairperson Stellah Bosire. “She confidently encouraged victims of police brutality to seek accountability, called for the truth in the Shakahola massacre, and justice for all victims of violent protest policing.”
“(It) was characterised by exemplary fortitude and commitment to the rule of law and human rights. She steered the commission through a difficult human rights context in Kenya but maintained unfettered dedication to standing up firmly against impunity, government excesses, and poor governance,” Ms Odhiambo posted on X.
The United States embassy in Kenya posted: “As KNCHR Chairperson, Roseline was a steadfast champion of the values Kenyans hold dear.”
Retired Chief Justice David Maraga said that having worked with Odede in a taskforce on police reforms, her death was a loss to Kenya.
“The country has lost a committed human rights defender, leader, and a dedicated legal professional who will be remembered for her great courage and passion,” he posted on X.
Reporting by Elvis Ondieki, Jackline Macharia and Ndubi Moturi
