About us

An independent voice for the citizen

The Commission on Administrative Justice — the Office of the Ombudsman — holds Kenya's public institutions to account for fair, lawful and timely administrative action.

Our mandate

What the Constitution asks of us

Article 59 and the CAJ Act, 2011 give the Commission a broad mandate over administrative justice and access to information.

Enforce administrative justice

Investigate complaints of delay, abuse of power, unfair treatment, manifest injustice and discourtesy in the public sector.

Champion Access to Information

Oversee and enforce the Access to Information Act, 2016, and promote a culture of openness in public bodies.

Improve public service

Work with MDAs to resolve complaints, recommend remedies and drive systemic service-delivery reform.

Safeguard the rule of law

Promote constitutionalism, good governance and respect for the rule of law in public administration.

What we can look into

Delay, neglect, abuse of power or unfair treatment by a public officer
Ministries, departments, agencies, county governments and State corporations
A public body's refusal or failure to release information you asked for
Matters the Commission takes up on its own motion

What we cannot look into

Matters already before a court or tribunal
Disputes between private individuals
Criminal matters — those go to the police or the prosecutor

If we cannot take a matter up, we tell you which body can.

Our powers

How the Commission gets answers

The Act gives the Commission the powers of a court to investigate, and the standing to see its findings acted on.

Summons
Require a public officer to appear, give evidence and produce documents or records.
Determinations
Decide a complaint and direct the public body to put the matter right, with a timeline to comply.
Advisory opinions
Advise public bodies and Parliament on administrative practice and on access-to-information law.
Referrals
Send a matter to the body best placed to act on it — and follow it up.

In the field

The Commission at work

Out of the office and into counties, studios, prisons and boardrooms — wherever the people we serve, and the bodies we oversee, are.

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State of Opennness Report Commencement
Commissioners at State House accompanied by staff
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Public bodies at one table
The Commission Chairperson, Mr Charles Dulo, and the Commission Secretary/CEO, Ms Naisiae Tobiko, with representatives of ministries, departments and agencies during a high-level engagement on access to information and complaints handling.
Read more: Public bodies at one table
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Answering to the public, through the press
Hon. Charles Njagua addresses the press during a high-level engagement with ministries, departments and agencies at Safari Park, Nairobi.
Read more: Answering to the public, through the press
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The right to know, marked with the people who use it
The Commission Chairperson, Mr Charles Dulo, addresses stakeholders during the International Day for Universal Access to Information, 2026.
Read more: The right to know, marked with the people who use it
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Taking the Ombudsman to the community
A team from the Commission, led by the Director, Public Education, Advocacy and Corporate Communications, during an outreach activity in partnership with Namati.
Read more: Taking the Ombudsman to the community
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Legal aid, taken inside the prison gate
A team from the Commission, led by the Commission Secretary/CEO, Ms Naisiae Tobiko, presents gifts to the Officer in Charge, Lang'ata Women's Prison, during a prison visit for a legal aid clinic.
Read more: Legal aid, taken inside the prison gate
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On air, where people are listening
The Commission Secretary, Ms Naisiae Tobiko, at Mediamax Limited, conducting public sensitisation on Mayian FM.
Read more: On air, where people are listening
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Access to information is the private sector's business too
A team from the Commission hosts stakeholders from the private sector for an engagement on access to information.
Read more: Access to information is the private sector's business too
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Side by side with national government administrators
The Commission Vice Chairperson, Ms Dorothy Jemator, with National Government Administration Officers from Kegugoya during an outreach activity.
Read more: Side by side with national government administrators
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Listening to the people who build the city
The Commission Chairperson, Mr Charles Dulo, and the Commission Secretary/CEO, Ms Naisiae Tobiko, with stakeholders from the built environment in Nairobi.
Read more: Listening to the people who build the city