President William Ruto has nominated Canon Dr. Ida Betty Odinga, popularly known as Mama Ida Odinga, to serve as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), subject to approval by the National Assembly.
The nomination was formally communicated by the Head of Public Service and forwarded to Parliament, where Mama Ida will undergo vetting before she can assume the high-profile diplomatic role.
If approved, Mama Ida Odinga will replace Ababu Namwamba, who has been reassigned to Kampala as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda following a recent diplomatic reshuffle by the President.
The changes form part of a broader reorganisation of Kenya’s foreign service aimed at strengthening diplomatic representation in key regional and multilateral postings.
UNEP, which is headquartered in Nairobi, is the United Nations’ leading environmental authority, making the permanent representative’s position one of Kenya’s most strategic diplomatic assignments.
Mama Ida Odinga is a seasoned educationist, civic leader and social justice advocate, with decades of involvement in education reform, women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
Her nomination has drawn significant public attention due to its symbolic and political weight, coming barely months after the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in October 2025.
Once vetted and approved by Parliament, Mama Ida Odinga will formally take over the UNEP post, marking a notable chapter in Kenya’s diplomatic and environmental engagement on the global stage.
Tags: Unep Editor's Pick Government Of Kenya President William Ruto Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstvkenya Signstv
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD