- Kenya’s National Security Adviser Monica Juma has secured a powerful United Nations appointment, placing the top diplomat in two top international offices.
- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Monica Juma as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna
- Monica Juma’s appointment follows decades in government and diplomacy, including senior cabinet positions in Kenya and ambassadorships
Kenya’s National Security Adviser, Monica Kathina Juma, has been appointed to two top leadership positions in the United Nations (UN).
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Juma currently serves as the National Security Adviser to the President of Kenya William Ruto and also serves as the secretary of Kenya’s National Security Council, a role he has held since 2022.
What is Monica Juma’s new role?
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced that Juma will serve as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna.
In an announcement made on Friday, March 7, Guterres indicated that Juma would succeed Ghada Fathi Waly, whose term in the organization has come to an end.
“United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Monica Kathina Juma of Kenya as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and also the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV). She succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, whom the Secretary-General thanks for her dedicated service to the Organization,” read part of the statement.
Until Juma officially takes over those positions, John Brandolino will continue to serve in the role of acting CEO of UNODC and Director General of UNOV.
This appointment puts the Kenyan diplomat at the helm of two important United Nations institutions dealing with international challenges related to crime, drugs and international governance coordination in Vienna.
UNODC leads international efforts against illegal drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism, while UNOV serves as the main hub of UN operations in Vienna, Austria, supporting diplomacy, development, and international cooperation initiatives.
His appointment reflects decades of experience in government, diplomacy, security policy, and academic research.
What are Monica Juma’s characteristics?
According to the United Nations statement announcing the decision, Juma has developed great expertise in the development of public policies, policy implementation, and governance in various strategic sectors.
Prior to his most recent role in Executive Kenya, Juma served in several key cabinet positions within the Kenyan government.
He was the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Energy between 2021 and 2022. Before that, he headed the Ministry of Defense from 2020 to 2021.
His diplomatic and international policy experience also includes serving as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2020.
Additionally, he served for a time as the Acting Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers for Petroleum and Minerals in 2022.
Early in his government career, Juma worked as Secretary General in many ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2016 and 2018, the Department of Internal Affairs under the Ministry of Interior and National Government Coordination between 2014 and 2016, and the Ministry of Defense between 2013 and 2014.
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In addition to his work within Kenya’s internal government structures, Juma has also represented the country in several high-level diplomatic roles.
Between 2010 and 2013, he served as Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti.
During the same period, he was also the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the African Union, the Intergovernmental Development Authority, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
These positions placed him within the main continental institutions involved in regional diplomacy, development policy, and conflict resolution.
Along with his work in government and diplomacy, Juma has maintained strong relationships with academic and policy research institutions.
His academic contributions also include serving as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, a role he has held since 2002.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a senior researcher and policy analyst at Safer Africa between 2002 and 2006.
Juma holds a PhD from the University of Oxford, obtained between 1998 and 2000.
He also obtained a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Public Administration from the University of Nairobi.
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