President William Samoei Ruto has congratulated Kenyan diplomat Monica Juma following her appointment as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna.
Her appointment was made by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, placing the veteran Kenyan diplomat at the helm of the UN agency responsible for coordinating global efforts against transnational crime, drug trafficking, corruption and terrorism. In the new role, Juma will also oversee operations of the UN headquarters in Vienna and coordinate international cooperation on crime prevention and criminal justice.
In a message released Saturday, Ruto said Juma’s rise to the international post was recognition of her long service to Kenya and her record in public leadership.
“Her stellar performance in the appointments bestowed upon her, with the most recent one being as my National Security Advisor and Secretary to the National Security Council, have been recognised beyond our borders,” Ruto said.
Juma most recently served as National Security Advisor to the President and Secretary to the National Security Council under Ruto.
Before that, she held several senior roles in government. She served as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade in the administration of Uhuru Kenyatta and previously held the Defence docket in an acting capacity. Earlier, she served as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also as Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
Juma’s entry into top government leadership dates back to 2013 when former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her as Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs during his first term in office, a role that placed her at the center of Kenya’s diplomatic engagement with the region and the wider international community.
Over the years, she has been involved in shaping Kenya’s foreign policy, regional diplomacy and national security strategy, becoming one of the country’s most experienced public servants.
Ruto praised her professionalism and dedication, saying she had consistently delivered in every position she held.
“Dr Juma has served our country with utmost professionalism and patriotism, given the best to all assignments tasked to her, which in return has earned her a place on the international stage,” he said.
The President also thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres for appointing a Kenyan woman to the influential international role, noting that the recognition comes during the month when the world celebrates women’s achievements, including International Women’s Day.
“I thank Secretary-General António Guterres for appointing not just a Kenyan but a woman leader and for doing this especially in this month when we celebrate women’s achievements,” Ruto said.
He added that Kenya remains committed to multilateral cooperation and will continue working closely with the United Nations.
“Kenya is committed to multilateralism, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the United Nations,” he said.
