Africa-Press – Kenya. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife Ida Odinga has appeared before a parliamentary committee for vetting following her nomination as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
She is before the Departmental Committee on Defence Intelligence, and Foreign Relations. The vetting marks a key step in the parliamentary approval process for her ambassadorial appointment, where she is expected to outline her vision for representing Kenya at Unep. She will also highlight her experience in policy and advocacy on national and international environmental issues.
Her vetting comes weeks after she officially accepted her nomination as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Canon Dr. Ida Odinga described her nomination to UNEP as an honour during a dedication ceremony at the Pefa Church, Thika Road, on Sunday, January 25.
“Thank you so much to those who have congratulated me for this new appointment. For me, it is an honour and I’m happy about it,” she said. President William Ruto nominated Ida Odinga for the role under powers vested in the Head of State.
The nomination now awaits parliamentary approval, which is required for all state appointments to the Foreign Service under the Constitution. If approved, Mama Ida Odinga will take up the role as Kenya seeks to advance sustainable development and environmental stewardship on the international stage. Ida is a respected educationist, civic leader, and advocate for social justice and gender equity.
She started her career as a graduate teacher at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi before moving to Kenya High School, where she spent over a decade shaping the minds of future leaders. Her years in the classroom, according to the nomination statement, “nurtured a deep-rooted and enduring commitment to education.”
The nominee is widely recognised for her lifelong dedication to public service and advancing women’s empowerment. Over the years, she has received numerous accolades in recognition of her work.
She holds two Honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degrees and was conferred with Kenya’s highest civilian honour, the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), in 2018.
Other recognitions include the Trailblazer Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Human Achievers Foundation. She was the lifelong companion of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, C.G.H., who passed away on October 15, 2025.
