President William Ruto has appointed Ida Odinga, widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The appointment, confirmed in a Gazette Notice dated February 27, 2026, follows Article 132(2) of the Constitution. “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 132 (2) (e) of the Constitution of Kenya, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint IDA BETTY ODINGA, CANON (DR), as Ambassador and Permanent Representative in the Foreign Service of the Republic of Kenya,” the notice states.
Ida Odinga received overwhelming support from the National Assembly, which approved the recommendation from the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Nelson Koech. Members of Parliament praised her contributions, with Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah emphasizing her dedication to the nation.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed urged critics to cease politicizing the appointment, highlighting Ida Odinga’s extensive service to Kenya. He called for a focus on her qualifications rather than political affiliations, stating, “Mama Ida is not seeking a salary or allowance; she aims to serve Kenya and be remembered for her dedication.”
Ida Odinga will replace Ababu Namwamba, who has been appointed Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda.
