Ruto Nominates Ababu Namwamba as Ambassador Amid Cabinet Reshuffle

Former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has landed a new role in government as President William Ruto confirmed the anticipated Cabinet shake-up on Thursday, December 19.

Namwamba was appointed as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

All nominations were confirmed in an official document obtained by Kenyans.co.ke Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

Other appointments in ambassadorial roles by President Ruto included former CS for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Margret Nyambura Ndun’gu who landed a role as the High Commissioner in Ghana.

Gertrude N. Angote has been appointed in the High Commission in Ghana, while Andrew Karanja, who previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, has landed an appointment to serve as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil.

Namwamba served as a Cabinet Secretary for Sports in the regime of current President William Ruto before the anti-government protests by Gen Z piled pressure on the Head of State to dismiss his Cabinet.

Following the inclusion of members of the opposition in the new Cabinet, Namwamba was among the CSs that were left out. His Ministry was taken over by Kipchumba Murkomen midway through 2024.

Months later, President Ruto caused another shakeup in Cabinet with Murkomen switching dockets from Sports to the Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports have been taken over by Salim Mvurya who currently serves as the CS for Trade. Mvurya also previously served as the Mining CS – a docket currently led by former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho.

In accordance with the State Corporations Act, the President also appointed Ndiritu Muriithi as the new Board of Directors chairperson at Kenya Revenue Authority. Muriithi is the former governor of Laikipia County.

Anthony Mwaura, the previous KRA Board chair was moved to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, while former Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura landed a role as the chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Koskei confirmed all the nominations have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval as per constitutional requirements.