President William Ruto has announced new diplomatic nominations in a move aimed at strengthening Kenya’s foreign relations and enhancing the country’s representation abroad.
In a statement released on Friday, State House Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix K. Koskei confirmed that the President had nominated Kosiom Frank Ole Kibelenkya as Kenya’s new Ambassador to Copenhagen, Denmark. The nomination is part of a broader restructuring within the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
Alongside the ambassadorial nomination, President Ruto also approved the appointment and redeployment of three deputy ambassadors. Elias Bare Shill has been nominated as Deputy Ambassador to Mogadishu, Somalia, while Dr Joseph Warui has been redeployed to serve as Deputy Ambassador to Moscow, Russia. Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Nur has been nominated as Deputy Ambassador to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
According to Koskei, the changes arise from the establishment of new diplomatic missions as approved by Cabinet, as well as the need to fill vacancies created by the end of tenure of serving diplomats.
“These changes comprise nominations for appointments to newly established missions as sanctioned by Cabinet, and the filling of vacancies arising from the end of tenure of serving diplomats,” Koskei stated.
The reshuffle underscores the government’s intention to deepen Kenya’s diplomatic engagement and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations across key regions, including Europe, Eastern Africa, and Eastern Europe.
The nomination of the ambassador will now be forwarded to the National Assembly, where Parliament is expected to vet and approve the appointment in line with constitutional requirements.
The latest changes form part of President Ruto’s broader foreign policy agenda, which seeks to expand Kenya’s diplomatic footprint, promote economic diplomacy, and safeguard national interests on the global stage.
