Editor's Review

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani as the new Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO).

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani as the new Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO).

In a statement on Monday, September 14, the UN said Kimani will succeed Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee of Ghana. 

UN noted that Kimani brings more than 25 years of experience in diplomacy and in international relations to the organization. 

“Mr. Kimani brings to the position 25 years of experience in international relations, peace and security, and multilateral diplomacy across government, regional organizations and the non-governmental and private sectors,” read the statement in part. 

Kimani previously served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2020 to 2024.

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File image of Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani. 

During Kenya’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2021 to 2022, he served as President of the Council in October 2021. 

The veteran diplomat also chaired the Council’s Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa and co-chaired its Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security in 2022.

Kimani holds a PhD and a master’s degree in War Studies from King's College, University of London, United Kingdom. 

He also has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of New Hampshire, United States. 

This comes months after Guterres appointed Kenyan diplomat and policy expert Monica Juma as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

The UNODC is the United Nations agency responsible for supporting member states in tackling issues such as illicit drugs, organised crime, corruption, and terrorism through research, policy guidance, and international cooperation. 

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office at Vienna serves as one of the UN’s major headquarters, coordinating programmes and administrative functions for several UN bodies based in Vienna.

President William Ruto welcomed the appointment, noting that it was a great feat for Juma. 

The president observed that Juma had outdone herself locally, where she earned a place in the National Security Council, noting that the UN milestones were proof that she is skilled in diplomacy and other policy matters affecting the globe.

"I take this opportunity to congratulate Monica Juma on her appointment as the Executive Director of UNODC and Director General of UN Office in Vienna. Her stellar performance in the appointments bestowed upon her, with the most recent one being as my National Security Advisor and Secretary to the National Security Council, has been recognised beyond our borders," the president said.