Ruto Nominates Susan Nakhumicha For United Nations Role

President William Ruto has nominated former Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha to a new diplomatic role following calls to have her return to government following her dismissal from Cabinet in July last year.

On Thursday, March 20, President Ruto nominated Nakhmicha to serve as the Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi. This is according to an announcement by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service.

Nakhumicha was nominated along with James Buyekane Muhati and Abdi Dubat Fidhow, who were appointed as Consul-Generals in Guangzhou, China, and Arusha, Tanzania, respectively.

Additionally, President Ruto selected Peter Tum as Kenya's Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and nominated Alfred K'Ombundo as Deputy Head of Mission in Belgium.

"Per Article 132 (2) (e) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President has nominated the following persons to serve as Ambassadors, Consuls-General, and Deputy Heads of Mission in Kenya's foreign missions abroad," read part of the notice.

According to Hussein Mohamed, the nominations have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in fulfilment of the legal requirements set out under Kenya's apex law. 

The nomination came days after Nakhumicha admitted that she was not doing well since being sent home as CS in July 2024. Nakhumicha was speaking on Friday, March 7, during the late former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati's funeral service in Trans Nzoia, where she opened up on her financial challenges following her exit from Cabinet, thus opting to venture into cabbage farming.

In her speech, she asked Kenyans to pray for her future, acknowledging that her departure from President Ruto's Cabinet resulted from the Gen Z protests.

"I was the Minister of Health, and the Gen Z came wakaanguka na mimi. The Bishop preached and said that during Moi's time, announcements were made on the radio; ours was announced on TV as we waited. I just heard that the whole Cabinet had been sent home and saw people were very happy.

"The Bishop said that we should focus on God, and since that day, that is what I have done. Right now, I am farming because, since that day, I have had no job. I do sell cabbages. I plant cabbages in Cherangany. continue praying for me so that the next time I can praise God, too," she stated.

A day later, Kiminini Member of Parliament Maurice Kakai revealed that Nakhumicha was still capable of holding another office in government, leading in calls by leaders from the Western region for Ruto to recall Nakhumicha, though in a different capacity.

Should she be successfully appointed, Nakhumicha will serve as Kenya’s official envoy to UN-Habitat, with her responsibilities including:

• Representing Kenya’s Interests – Advocating for Kenya’s priorities in urban development, housing, and sustainable human settlements within UN-Habitat.

• Diplomatic Engagement – Coordinating with other UN member states, agencies, and stakeholders to influence global and regional policies on sustainable urbanization and human settlements.

• Policy Development & Implementation – Contributing to discussions and decisions on urban planning, affordable housing, and environmental sustainability, aligning UN-Habitat initiatives with Kenya’s national urban development goals.

• Liaising with the Kenyan Government – Ensuring that Kenya’s commitments and obligations under UN-Habitat programs are effectively implemented and integrated into national policies.

• Promoting International Cooperation – Facilitating partnerships, funding opportunities, and technical exchanges between Kenya and other nations to enhance sustainable urban development.

• Hosting & Coordinating UN Activities – Since UN-Habitat is based in Nairobi, the representative also plays a key role in organizing and overseeing events, summits, and collaborations related to urban development.

The former Health Cabinet Secretary was removed from office in July 2024 following widespread anti-government protests across the country. Nakhumicha, along with several other ministers, was dismissed after public dissatisfaction with the government. She was succeeded by Deborah Barasa on August 8, 2024.

After her dismissal, Nakhumicha remarked that her distinct name made it difficult for people to stop recognizing her as the Health Cabinet Secretary, which in turn affected her ability to interact freely.