NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has reshuffled Kenya’s foreign service, appointing former Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba as the country’s new High Commissioner to Uganda.
The changes were announced on Wednesday by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who said the reassignments were driven by the expiry of terms for several serving ambassadors and high commissioners.
Under the changes, the current High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, has been redeployed to Brussels as Kenya’s Ambassador to the European Union.
“The changes are necessitated by vacancies arising from the completion of the terms of service of serving Ambassadors. The changes take effect immediately,” Koskei said.
Namwamba takes up the Kampala posting from Nairobi, where he had been serving as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a position he assumed in January last year.
A seasoned politician and former Budalang’i Member of Parliament (MP), Namwamba previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Sports before leaving government following President Ruto’s decision not to retain him in the Cabinet.
Uganda is one of Kenya’s most critical diplomatic and economic partners, with the two countries linked by trade, security cooperation and regional integration under the East African Community (EAC).
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The Kampala mission is therefore considered a strategic posting, particularly at a time when the region is navigating political transitions and security challenges.
Joash Maangi’s transfer to the European Union places him at the centre of Kenya’s engagement with one of its largest development partners and trading blocs, covering cooperation on trade, climate financing, governance and regional security.
The latest reshuffle signals President Ruto’s continued effort to recalibrate Kenya’s diplomatic representation as he seeks to align foreign policy appointments with evolving regional and global priorities.
