President William Ruto has announced fresh changes in the country’s Foreign Service.
In an official announcement on Friday, February 6, 2026, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei said the President approved a series of nominations to fill vacant positions and staff newly established diplomatic missions, following Cabinet authorization.
The changes also address vacancies created after the completion of tenure by several serving diplomats.
Among the key appointments, Kosiom Frank Ole Kibelekenya has been nominated to serve as Kenya’s Ambassador to Copenhagen in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Ruto has forwarded his nomination to the National Assembly for Parliament’s consideration and approval, as required by law.
Several deputy ambassadorial postings were also announced. Elias Bare Shill has been nominated as Deputy Ambassador to Mogadishu in the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Ambassador Dr. Joseph Warui has also been redeployed to Moscow in the Russian Federation in the same capacity, while Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Nur has been nominated to serve as Deputy Ambassador in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
“HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT has transmitted the nomination of the full Ambassador to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament,” read part of the statement .
Ole Kibelekenya nominated as the Kenya’s Ambassador
Ole Kibelekenya holds a Bachelor of Education in teaching and educational theory and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), an advanced, research-based master’s degree.
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He has served as a member of the University Council for Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). At MMUST, he was part of the governance team responsible for strategic oversight and resource mobilization.
In late 2024, he was shortlisted by the Public Service Commission(PSC) for the positions of Vice-Chairperson and Member of the Commission.
Earlier in 2018, Ole Kibelekenya was recorded as a participant in the university’s academic and governance affairs, encouraging research and innovation
Rutos Previous Appointement
The nomination of Ole Kibelekenya follows Ruto’s appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the Republic of Kenya.
The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, in a statement on January 22, said that Ida Odinga has been nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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Koskei added that President Ruto has transmitted Ida Odinga’s nomination to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament in fulfilment of the constitutional requirements on State appointments to the Foreign Service.
If approved, she will replace former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who has been serving the UNEP role since January 2025.
Earlier, President Ruto had reassigned Ababu Namwamba as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Kampala, Uganda, replacing Ambassador Joash Maangi.
Ambassador Maangi, in turn, was reassigned as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brussels, Belgium, and the European Union, replacing Prof. Bitange Ndemo. The notice indicated that the reassignments take effect immediately.
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