The Kenya Law Reform Commission (the Commission) is established by the Kenya Law Reform Commission Act, No. 19 of 2013 (the Act). Presidential assent was given on 14 January 2013 and the Act came into force on 25th January 2013. The Commission has a statutory and ongoing role of reviewing all the law of Kenya to ensure that it is modernized, relevant and harmonized with the Constitution of Kenya. Following the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010, the Commission has an additional mandate of preparing new legislation to give effect to the Constitution. The third mandate is found in the County Governments Act, No. 17 of 2012 which requires the Commission to assist the county governments in the development of their laws. This is also a requirement found in the Act.

The Act grants the Commission a body corporate status and the necessary autonomy to enable it discharge its mandate as envisaged under the Act. The Commission is wholly funded by the Government but welcomes support from its partners.

Before the enactment of the Act, the Commission operated as a Department within the Office of the Attorney-General before being moved administratively to the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs in 2003.