The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has approved Ida Odinga’s nomination as Kenya’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The decision moves her closer to formally representing Kenya at the UN environment body headquartered in Nairobi.
The committee’s report will now be tabled before the House for debate during a plenary sitting on Wednesday, when Members of Parliament are expected to cast a final vote on the nomination. If endorsed, Ms Odinga will assume the diplomatic role immediately.
Ms Odinga, often referred to as Mama Ida, appeared before the committee on Friday morning for vetting. She outlined her vision for Kenya’s engagement with UNEP, stressing the urgency of environmental stewardship.
“How we manage or mismanage our environment will determine the quality of life we live,” she told MPs, highlighting the link between sustainable policies and citizens’ wellbeing.
She pointed to Kenya and Africa’s growing influence in climate action, urging coordinated efforts to address environmental degradation. “I believe this is a critical moment when we are presented with an opportunity to shape our environmental future. If approved by this committee, I intend to do my level best to help stop the destruction of our planet and pursue every specific priority,” she said.
Ms Odinga expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for the nomination and spoke emotionally about her late husband, describing him as her “number one supporter and the man who shaped me into the woman I am today.”
“I thank President Ruto for the trust he has placed in me by nominating me to serve our nation in this important global diplomatic role. I am also grateful for the messages of goodwill, the support and all the advice I have received from my friends, colleagues and fellow Kenyans since my nomination,” she added.
Beyond her diplomatic ambitions, Ms Odinga spoke about her long-standing commitment to social causes. She highlighted her work with the Ida Odinga Trust, which supports young mothers who had dropped out of school to return to education. She also reflected on her own upbringing, noting that after losing her father at a young age, her mother raised six children with “unwavering strength and deep fear for God.”
President Ruto nominated Ms Odinga under powers vested in the Head of State, a move that has been widely viewed as a strategic effort to ensure strong Kenyan representation in environmental governance.
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