From Uhuru CS to Ruto Advisor: Illustrious Career of Monica Juma

MONICA JUMA 

Education Background

Monica Juma is a Kenyan diplomat who currently serves as National Security Advisor to President William Ruto. She was born on 26 September 1963.

Juma studied at the University of Nairobi for her Bachelor’s of Arts in Government and Public Administration and Master of Arts in Government and Public Administration and University of Oxford, Certificate in Refugee Studies and where she also attained her Doctor of Philosophy in Politics.

Also Read: William Ruto Profile: Background, Education and Family

Diplomatic Career of Monica Juma 

Dr Juma is a distinguished diplomat, with grounded expertise in strategic management, policy making and analysis in international affairs, defense, peace, security and governance. She combines in-depth expertise with experience drawn from public, diplomatic service, research and academia, accumulated over three decades.

Juma has a long career in the diplomatic service, having served as Kenya’s concurrent ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti, the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, based out of Addis Ababa.

On 27 June 2013, she was sworn in as the Principal Secretary, in the Kenya Ministry of Defense, serving in that capacity until she was moved to the Kenya Ministry of the Interior, as Principal Secretary.

Other Cabinet Appointments 

Juma served as the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between January 2016 and February 2018.

Also Read: Uhuru Kenyatta Profile: Background, Education, Politics & Family

She served as the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Interior, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government where she led a team that drove reforms and transformation of the national security policy, architecture and operations within the National Administration, the Immigration and Registration of Persons departments, as well as the National Police Service.

She also initiated work that led to the development of Kenya’s strategy on Counterterrorism and Violent Extremism and creation of multi-agencies approach in tackling security challenges.

Collectively, these measures reduced Kenya’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks, remarkably and restored security across the country. In addition, the efforts laid a sound foundation for the continuing improvement of public safety and security.

Prior to serving in the Ministry of Interior, Juma served as the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Defence where she was instrumental in strengthening the business process systems within the ministry, clarifying the strategic orientation and bolstering the professional stature of the Kenya Defence.

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