Jane Marriott Announces Exit As UK Ambassador To Kenya

Jane Marriott has announced that she will relinquish her role as the United Kingdom (UK) High Commissioner to Kenya in June 2023 when her term expires.

In a statement on Wednesday, April 19, Marriott appreciated the four years she had served as the British envoy to the country, adding that she will miss Kenya enormously.

Even though she urged Kenyans to keep tabs on her successor, Marriott hinted at another diplomatic assignment that she would take up in July.

 UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott. /FILE

"After four amazing years, my time in Kenya is up in June - I will miss Kenya and Kenyans enormously.

"Make sure to follow my successor and look out for more soon on what we achieve together. Tufaulu pamoja (we shall succeed together). I’ll be popping up in another role in July," she stated in part.

The United Kingdom Government in a statement announced that it selected Neil Wigan OBE as Marriott's replacement.

"Mr Neil Wigan OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya in succession to Ms Jane Marriott who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

"Wigan will take up his appointment during July 2023," read the statement in part.

Neil Wigan has held multiple roles, including ambassadorial roles in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and served the same role in Tel Aviv Israel prior to his recent appointment, which takes effect in July 2023.

The father of two has also worked as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCO) Director in Africa from 2015 to 2018, having joined FCO in 2000 and worked in various capacities.

Marriott was appointed to Kenya in 2019 and took over from Nic Hailey, becoming the first woman to be named a High Commissioner to Kenya.

Prior to her deployment to Kenya, she served as the director of the UK’s Joint International Counter-Terrorism Unit under FCO.

"In that role, she had responsibility for the overall design of the UK’s international counter-terrorism strategies, working with cross-Government and international stakeholders," read the statement in part.

Marriott's recent pivotal achievement was the UK's reduction of waiting times for visas to three weeks instead of the previous six, on Wednesday, January 25.

She had earlier promised to address the plight of Kenyans encountering challenges in getting their visas, particularly delays, as she advised them to make arrangements six weeks ahead to mitigate the delays.

"Six months ago, I promised we would get our visa service for Kenyans travelling to the UK back on track. 

"I’m pleased we’re now at normal customer service standards - a decision should take just three weeks, with faster priority services available," she stated.