Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has joined leaders across the political divide in congratulating Ida Odinga following her nomination as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In a statement issued on Saturday, Nyamu praised Odinga’s long public service record, describing the appointment as a fitting recognition of decades of leadership, advocacy and contribution to national development.
She said Odinga’s background in education, women’s empowerment and governance positions her well to advance Kenya’s interests on the global environmental stage.
Nyamu noted that Odinga’s nomination carries symbolic weight, particularly for women in leadership, arguing that it reflects growing acknowledgment of women’s roles in shaping national and international policy.
She added that the appointment sends a positive signal to Kenyan women aspiring to serve at senior levels in public and diplomatic service.
The senator further wished Odinga strength and wisdom as she prepares to take up the role, emphasising the importance of UNEP to Kenya, which hosts the agency’s global headquarters in Nairobi.
She said effective representation at UNEP is critical as the country seeks to play a more prominent role in global conversations on climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development.
Odinga was nominated by President William Ruto to serve as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNEP, a position that now awaits approval by the National Assembly.
Her nomination has elicited mixed reactions nationally, with supporters hailing her credentials and experience, while critics have raised questions about the political implications of the appointment.
If approved, Odinga will represent Kenya in key multilateral environmental negotiations at a time when climate financing, adaptation and conservation remain central to global and regional agendas.