Ida Odinga Accepts Ruto’s UN Top Job

Mama Ida Betty Odinga has officially accepted her nomination as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Canon Dr. Ida Odinga described her nomination to UNEP as an honour during a dedication ceremony at the Pefa Church, Thika Road, on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

“Thank you so much to those who have congratulated me for this new appointment. For me, it is an honour and I’m happy about it,” she said.

President William Ruto nominated Ida Odinga for the role under powers vested in the Head of State. The nomination has been transmitted to Parliament for consideration and approval.

The nomination now awaits parliamentary approval, which is required for all state appointments to the Foreign Service under the Constitution. If approved, Mama Ida Odinga will take up the role as Kenya seeks to advance sustainable development and environmental stewardship on the international stage.

If approved, she will replace Ababu Namwamba, who has been reassigned as Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda.

The nomination comes amid President Ruto’s ongoing diplomatic reshuffle, which has seen several key appointments and transfers across Kenya’s missions abroad.

Mama Ida said she remains calm despite the heightened public attention following her nomination to the UNEP.

“These days, every time I switch on the TV, I see they are talking about me. I read the newspapers, and they are talking about me. But I don’t fear because God is with me. I encourage everyone that when you are in trouble, read Psalms 23, and things will be alright,” she said.

Mama Ida Odinga is a respected educationist, civic leader, and advocate for social justice and gender equity. She began her career as a graduate teacher at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi before moving to Kenya High School, where she spent over a decade shaping the minds of future leaders.

Her years in the classroom, according to the nomination statement, “nurtured a deep-rooted and enduring commitment to education.”

The nominee is widely recognised for her lifelong dedication to public service and advancing women’s empowerment. She was the lifelong companion of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, C.G.H., who passed away on October 15, 2025.

“Her life’s work stands as a testament to the highest ideals of selfless service, defined by courage, sacrifice, grace under fire, and an unceasing commitment to advancing women’s education and empowerment,” the statement notes.

Mama Ida Odinga has a long history of activism. In the early 1990s, during Kenya’s transition from a single-party state to multiparty democracy, she played a key role in advancing calls for political reform. She served as the founding Chairperson of the League of Kenya Women Voters, a platform through which she advocated for democratic change and equality. Since then, she has continued to champion initiatives that improve the lives of women, children, youth, and vulnerable communities.

Beyond civic engagement, Mama Ida Odinga has contributed to the private sector, including leadership in family businesses such as East African Spectre, a liquefied gas cylinder manufacturing company.

Over the years, she has received numerous accolades in recognition of her work. She holds two Honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degrees and was conferred with Kenya’s highest civilian honour, the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), in 2018.

Other recognitions include the Trailblazer Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Human Achievers Foundation. Leaders congratulated Mama Ida on the nomination, describing her as a trailblazer who will transform the sector.