President William Ruto has nominated Canon Dr Ida Betty Odinga for appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), subject to parliamentary approval.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency said the nomination was made in exercise of the President’s constitutional prerogative as Head of State and Government. The nomination has been formally transmitted to the National Assembly for vetting and approval, in line with constitutional requirements governing appointments to the Foreign Service.
If approved, Dr Odinga will represent Kenya at UNEP, headquartered in Nairobi, where the country hosts the UN’s principal environmental authority. The government said her appointment is expected to strengthen Kenya’s engagement in global environmental diplomacy and amplify its voice on international environmental policy.
The statement described Dr Odinga as a distinguished educationist, civic leader, and long-time advocate for social justice and gender equity. It highlighted her decades-long involvement in education, democratic reform, and community leadership, as well as her contribution to women’s empowerment initiatives.
Her nomination comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to consolidate its leadership role in global environmental governance, particularly on climate change, sustainable development, and environmental justice.
Dr Odinga’s appointment will take effect only after approval by the National Assembly.
Who is Ida Odinga
Canon Dr Ida Betty Odinga is a veteran educator, civil society leader, and gender rights advocate. She began her career as a secondary school teacher at Highway Secondary School and later Kenya High School, where she taught for more than a decade.
In the early 1990s, she emerged as a key figure in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement and served as the founding chairperson of the League of Kenya Women Voters.
She is widely known for her advocacy on women’s education, democratic governance, and social justice, both in Kenya and internationally. Dr Odinga was the spouse of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga until his death in October 2025.
In 2018, she was awarded Kenya’s highest civilian honour, the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), and has received multiple national and international accolades for her public service and civic leadership.
