Nairobi — Kenya’s Dr. Monica Juma has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), marking one of the highest-ranking positions a Kenyan diplomat has attained in the international organization.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment on Friday, placing Juma, who currently serves as National Security Adviser to President William Ruto, at the helm of two key UN agencies at the Under-Secretary-General level . She succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, with John Brandolino serving as acting head until Juma assumes her duties .

President William Ruto led the nation in congratulating Juma, praising her professionalism and patriotism in public service.

“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,” President Ruto said in a statement .

The President highlighted that Juma’s track record of excellence had earned her a place on the international stage, describing her as a leader who has given her best to every assignment tasked to her .

In her response, Juma expressed gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for the confidence placed in her ability to steer the two important offices at a critical time.

“I appreciate the Secretary General’s confidence in my ability to steer these two important offices at the Under Secretary General level, at this critical point,” Juma said .

She also thanked President Ruto for enabling her to take on the global assignment, describing it as demonstrating his belief in Kenya’s contribution to the community of nations. “I look forward to serving at this new mandate diligently and flying Kenya’s flag high, to the best of my ability,” she added .

International Women’s Day Significance

The appointment comes on the eve of International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8. The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day in 1977, creating a global platform to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for equal rights and opportunities . This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” emphasizes the need to dismantle structural barriers to equal justice and accelerate progress toward gender equality .

President Ruto specifically thanked Guterres for appointing “not just a Kenyan but a woman leader” during the month when the world celebrates women’s achievements . He also reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to multilateralism and continued collaboration with the United Nations.

Juma noted that the timing of her appointment was demonstrative of the UN Secretary-General’s belief in women’s leadership .

A Distinguished Career

Dr. Juma brings extensive experience to her new role, having served in strategic Cabinet positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Energy . Her diplomatic career includes serving as Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well as Permanent Representative to the African Union and IGAD .

She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and has worked extensively in academia and policy research, including as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the African Centre for Strategic Studies at the US National Defence University .

The appointment positions Juma to lead UNODC’s global efforts in addressing drug trafficking, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism, while also overseeing the UN office in Vienna, which houses multiple international organizations .

“Thank You Kenya for preparing me to serve humanity,” Juma said in her response .