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President William Ruto has nominated Ida Betty Odinga as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a key global body that deals with environmental protection and climate issues.

The appointment has been forwarded to the National Assembly, where it will be reviewed before final approval.

In announcing the nomination, President Ruto described Ida Odinga as an educationist, a pro-democracy advocate, and a champion of gender equity.

 He praised her long record of public service and her commitment to social justice, saying she has spent decades working to uplift communities, especially women and young people.

Ida Odinga is widely known as Mama Ida and is the widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, one of Kenya’s most influential political leaders. However, she has built her own strong identity through education, activism, and civic leadership.

She began her career as a teacher, serving at Highway Secondary School before later teaching at Kenya High School, where she worked for more than ten years.

 During her time in education, she focused on mentoring students and encouraging young girls to pursue leadership and academic excellence.

Beyond the classroom, Ida Odinga played an active role in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, particularly during the struggle for multiparty democracy in the 1990s.

She supported civic engagement and stood firmly for democratic freedoms at a time when political space was limited. Over the years, she has also spoken strongly for women’s rights, gender equality, and social inclusion.

If approved by Parliament, Ida Odinga will represent Kenya at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi.

Her role will involve engaging with international partners on key global issues such as climate change, environmental protection, pollution control, and sustainable development.

UNEP is the leading United Nations agency on environmental matters, making the position both influential and demanding.

The nomination comes at a time when Kenya is positioning itself as a regional and global leader in environmental diplomacy.

With her background in education, advocacy, and public service, the government believes Ida Odinga will bring valuable experience and moral leadership to the role.

Many Kenyans are now watching Parliament’s next steps as the vetting process begins, with expectations that her nomination could strengthen Kenya’s voice on global environmental issues.