President Ruto Nominates Ida Odinga as Kenya’s UNEP Ambassador

President William Ruto has nominated Ida Betty Odinga to serve as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), subject to parliamentary approval.

The nomination was announced by the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, who confirmed that the name has been forwarded to Parliament for vetting in line with constitutional requirements governing Foreign Service appointments. If approved, Ms Odinga will replace Ababu Namwamba, who was reassigned last week as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda as part of a broader diplomatic reshuffle.

Ida Odinga is widely known for her work in education, civic activism, and advocacy for women’s empowerment. She began her professional career as a teacher at Highway Secondary School before later teaching at Kenya High School, where she spent more than a decade in the classroom. According to the nomination statement, her experience in education has shaped a lasting commitment to public service.

Beyond education, she played an active role in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement during the 1990s. She served as the founding chair of the League of Kenya Women Voters and was involved in campaigns promoting political reform and gender equality.

Her career has also included leadership in business and civil society. Through East African Spectre, the family-owned gas cylinder manufacturing company, she contributed to Kenya’s energy sector while continuing to support programmes focused on women, young people, and marginalised groups.

Internationally, Ms Odinga has received several honours recognising her advocacy work, including the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, Kenya’s highest civilian award, which she received in 2018. The nomination comes months after the death of Raila Odinga, the former Prime Minister and long-serving opposition leader. His absence has left the Orange Democratic Movement navigating questions about its future leadership and political direction. 

Observers note that the appointment may influence internal party dynamics as ODM considers its position ahead of the 2027 general election. The timing also coincides with discussions between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance over possible political cooperation, adding a political dimension to the diplomatic appointment.

From a foreign policy perspective, the nomination reflects Kenya’s continued focus on environmental diplomacy. As host to UNEP’s global headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya has sought to maintain a strong presence in international environmental governance. The appointment is expected to reinforce the country’s role within multilateral environmental institutions.