THE Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is planning to open offices in all the 47 counties countrywide, commissioner Anne Ngugi has said. Ngugi said the offices will help curb the rampant human rights violations in the country. She said the commission will first open offices in Nyanza, Coast and Eastern provinces before going to counties in other provinces.

Currently, KNHCR has offices in Nairobi, Kitale and Wajir. "As a commission, we have noble plans in line with our new devolved governments. We intend to be in all counties and will be opening offices in Mombasa, Kisumu and in Eastern province soon," she said. Ngugi made the remarks at a function to celebrate International Day for Victims Against Torture at Kesogon town in Trans Nzoia county.

She said there is an upsurge in cattle rustling on the Trans Nzoia-Pokot border region and urged residents to report such incidences to her commission. Ngugi said women and children are more vulnerable to torture. "We have also observed increase in domestic violence where we have witnessed battering of men by their wives but the commission will strive to bring this vice to an end," Ngugi said. She said the commission has well trained staff with the capacity of handling proper investigations.