President William Ruto has nominated Ida Betty Odinga, widow of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The announcement, made by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, highlighted Ida’s lifelong dedication to women’s education, empowerment, and public service, describing her leadership as courageous and selfless.

“In her own right, she has championed freedom of expression, gender equity, and education as a cornerstone for national development,” the statement said.

The nomination, now before the National Assembly for approval, is expected to strengthen Kenya’s role in global environmental governance. Ida will represent the country at UNEP’s headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a key voice in international environmental diplomacy.

The move follows a diplomatic reshuffle that reassigned previous UNEP representative Ababu Namwamba to Uganda, reflecting the President’s broader strategy to enhance Kenya’s influence in multilateral institutions.