President William Ruto has nominated Mama Ida Odinga, widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in a move that has stunned political observers and drawn widespread attention.
The nomination, announced Friday by State House Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, comes just four months after her husband’s death in October 2025, marking a significant political appointment that bridges Kenya’s long-standing political divide.
If approved by Parliament, the 73-year-old educationist and civic leader will replace Ababu Namwamba, who was recently reassigned to Kampala.
“His Excellency the President has, in exercise of the prerogative vested in the Head of State and Government, caused the nomination of Canon Dr. Ida Betty Odinga, E.G.H., for appointment as Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Environment Programme,” Koskei stated in the official press release.
The nomination recognizes Mama Ida as a “distinguished educationist, civic leader, and an acclaimed advocate for social justice and gender equity” whose career spans decades of public service.
According to the State House statement, her professional journey began as “a graduate teacher at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi, and later at Kenya High School, where over a decade in the classroom nurtured a deep-rooted and enduring commitment to education.”
The announcement describes her as having been “the lifelong companion of the former Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, C.G.H., until his demise on 15th October, 2025,” noting that “her life’s work stands as a testament to the highest ideals of selfless service, defined by courage, sacrifice, grace under fire, and an unceasing commitment to advancing women’s education and empowerment.”
During the turbulent 1990s democracy movement, Mama Ida carved out her own political identity as founding Chairperson of the League of Kenya Women Voters, playing what the press release calls “a key role in advancing calls for change and democratic reform” during Kenya’s transition to multiparty democracy.
Beyond politics, she has contributed to Kenya’s private sector through family enterprises, including East African Spectre, described as “a liquefied gas cylinder manufacturing company that has made considerable contributions to the nation’s energy sector.”
Her accolades include Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) conferred in 2018, two Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees, and awards from the Human Achievers Foundation.
“Her appointment to this role, subject to the requisite parliamentary approval, is expected to amplify Kenya’s voice on environmental issues and further reinforce the country’s longstanding leadership in environmental diplomacy,” the statement reads.
The nomination now heads to the National Assembly for vetting and approval, where it is likely to generate intense political debate given Kenya’s complex political landscape and the symbolic weight of appointing Raila Odinga’s widow to a prestigious international post.
