SALLY KOSGEI JEPNG’ETICH
| NAME | SALLY KOSGEI JEPNG’ETICH |
| AGE | 76 YEARS |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | FORMER HEAD OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DIPLOMAT, POLITICIAN, ACADEMIC |
Sally Jepng’etich Kosgei is a Kenyan diplomat, academic, and politician, best known as the country’s first female Head of Public Service and a former Minister for Agriculture and Higher Education.
Early life and Education
Sally Jepng’etich Kosgei was born in 1949 in Kenya and raised in Nandi County.
She began her education at Serem and Aldai Primary Schools before joining the prestigious Alliance Girls’ High School, where she completed her secondary education in the mid-1960s.
In 1970, she enrolled at the University of Dar es Salaam, then a hub for Pan-African intellectualism and political thought.
She graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, studying alongside future African leaders, including Jakaya Kikwete, who would later become President of Tanzania.
Her academic excellence earned her a scholarship to Stanford University in the United States. There, she pursued graduate studies in African History, earning a Master of Arts in 1975 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in African Economic History in 1980.
In 1978, while still completing her doctoral studies, Kosgei began her career as a lecturer in the History Department at the University of Nairobi, marking the start of a distinguished journey through academia, diplomacy, and public service.
Career
Early Public Service
In 1981, while still a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Sally Kosgei came across a job advertisement by the Public Service Commission in a local newspaper, applied, and was selected.
This marked the beginning of her remarkable journey in public service.
Her first posting was to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was assigned to the Kenya Mission to UN-Habitat in Nairobi.
She later served in the African Division of the same ministry, focusing on regional diplomacy and multilateral relations.
By 1984, she had risen to the position of Senior Assistant Secretary in the Africa and OAU Division, where she was responsible for coordinating Kenya’s engagement with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and other continental bodies.
In 1985, Kosgei was appointed Kenya’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, becoming one of the youngest diplomats to hold such a senior foreign posting at the time.
This early phase of her public service career laid the foundation for her ascent into the highest echelons of Kenya’s diplomatic and administrative leadership.
Diplomatic Service
After serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1981 to 1985, Sally Kosgei was appointed Consular at the Kenya High Commission in Zimbabwe in 1985.
This marked her first major foreign posting and a significant step in her diplomatic career.
She was later appointed Permanent Representative of the Kenya Mission to UNEP, where she represented Kenya in multilateral environmental diplomacy.
From 1986 to 1992, Dr. Kosgei served as Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher.
She was the youngest Kenyan ambassador ever posted to the UK at the time. During this period, she also served concurrently as:
- Ambassador to Ireland
- Ambassador to Switzerland
Her tenure in London was marked by strategic diplomatic engagement, where she played a key role in strengthening Kenya’s bilateral relations with major European powers.
She was known for her sharp intellect, diplomatic finesse, and ability to navigate complex international negotiations.
In the mid-1990s, she returned to Kenya and was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, becoming the second female Permanent Secretary in independent Kenya after Margaret Githinji.
Senior Government Leadership
As Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a position she held for approximately 10 years, Kosgei played a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s foreign policy and re-establishing the East African Community (EAC).
Her tenure was marked by a proactive approach to regional diplomacy and international cooperation.
In 2001, President Daniel Arap Moi appointed her as Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, making her the first and only woman to hold this powerful position in Kenya’s history.
In this role, she coordinated Cabinet affairs and oversaw the entire civil service, reporting directly to the President.
Kosgei played a pivotal role in managing the historic transition of power from President Moi to President Mwai Kibaki in 2002.
She was at the center of planning the handover, including the chaotic but symbolic swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park.
Her emotional response to the transition, reportedly weeping as Moi departed State House, was a reflection of the weight of the moment and her deep commitment to public service.
She served in this capacity until 2003, when she was succeeded by Amb. Francis Muthaura under the new Kibaki administration.
Political Career
Sally Kosgei transitioned into elective politics in the mid-2000s.
She joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and successfully contested the Aldai Constituency parliamentary seat in the 2007 General Election.
Kosgei became the first Member of Parliament for the Aldai Constituency following its creation during the 2007 electoral boundary review.
She served in the 10th Parliament under President Mwai Kibaki’s Grand Coalition Government.
In the aftermath of the 2007–08 post-election crisis, Kosgei was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology.
In this role, she oversaw reforms in university education, research funding, and technical training institutions.
In April 2010, during a Cabinet reshuffle, Kosgei swapped portfolios with William Ruto, becoming the Minister for Agriculture.
She held this position until March 2013, when she exited active politics.
During her tenure, she focused on improving food security, enhancing agricultural productivity, and supporting smallholder farmers.
She also represented Kenya at international agricultural forums, including meetings at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
After retiring from active politics in 2013, Sally Kosgei stepped back from the public spotlight but remained influential in diplomatic, academic, and policy circles.
She has continued to mentor young leaders, particularly women in public service, and is often invited to speak at forums on governance, diplomacy, and leadership.
In October 2025, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Diplomatic Awards hosted by the International Relations Society of Kenya, COMESA, and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
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The award recognized her decades of service in diplomacy, civil service, and political leadership.
Net Worth
Sally Kosgei has maintained a relatively discreet financial profile throughout her public service and political career.
Although the full extent of her wealth is not officially documented, Kosgei has been linked to a few business interests.
Notably, she is associated with Zena Roses Ltd, a flower export company operating farm in Murang’a and Uasin Gishu counties.
The business, which exports roses to European markets, is reportedly managed by her son, Ahmed Nzibo.
In 2017, Kosgei was named in the Paradise Papers, an international investigation into offshore financial dealings.
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The reports indicated that she owned Zonrisa Ltd, a Mauritius-based company used to purchase a $1 million (Ksh129 million) apartment in London in 2001, around the time she was appointed Head of Public Service.
She responded to the revelations by affirming that the transaction was legal and that she had complied with all ethical and legal obligations as a public official.
Despite the scrutiny, no formal charges or findings of misconduct have been made against her.
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