A delegation from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), led by Dr. Mizanie Abate, Strategic Advisor to the Chief Commissioner, undertook a strategic exchange visit to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in Nairobi from February 17-20, 2026. The exchange visit brought together senior officials and technical experts from both institutions in a structured peer dialogue aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and facilitating peer-to-peer learning between the two A-status National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).
The four-day engagement provided a valuable platform to share best practices on both core mandates and emerging human rights priorities. Discussions focused on mechanisms for tracking and ensuring the implementation of recommendations; avenues for redressing human rights violations; and the role of NHRIs in transitional justice processes. The delegation also examined human rights–based engagement throughout the electoral cycle; participation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR); and approaches to institutional strategic planning and operational readiness.
During the visit, EHRC highlighted the comprehensive reform initiatives it has undertaken over the past six years to strengthen its independence, accessibility, and effectiveness. The delegation outlined efforts to advance digital and open-source investigation capacities and to expand institutional accessibility through the establishment of new city offices, the deployment of focal persons in hard-to-reach areas, and the introduction of a mobile complaint-handling mechanism. EHRC further noted that sustained high-level advocacy with federal and regional authorities, as well as engagement with international human rights mechanisms and partners, has reinforced its institutional standing and contributed to important government measures on key human rights concerns. Notably, the delegation underscored that the EHRC-OHCHR Joint Investigation Report on the Tigray Conflict was critical in informing the adoption of Ethiopia’s National Transitional Justice Policy.
The delegation also expressed appreciation for KNCHR’s leadership in the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya. EHRC conveyed particular interest in learning from KNCHR’s use of amicus curiae briefs, legal aid, and strategic public interest litigation; its work on business and human rights; its advocacy for the expanded application of non-custodial measures to mitigate prison overcrowding; and its credible election-related human rights monitoring supported by digital systems. In addition to its engagement with KNCHR, the EHRC delegation visited the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) and the Election Observation Group (ELOG), where it received comprehensive briefings on their respective mandates and roles within Kenya’s electoral framework.
EHRC’s visit to KNCHR concluded with the two peer NHRIs reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration and strengthened engagement on human rights issues of mutual interest.