Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani has landed a new senior position at the United Nations after being appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Africa.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment on Monday, September 14. Kimani takes over from Ghanaian diplomat Martha Pobee, who has held the position since May 2021.
Guterres said Kimani brings 25 years of experience in international relations, peace and security and multilateral diplomacy.
Martin Kimani previously served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York between 2020 and 2024.
During Kenya’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2021 to 2022, Kimani served as President of the Council in October 2021.
He also chaired the Council’s Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa and co-chaired its Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security in 2022.
As at 2023, Kimani held the post of President of the Executive Board of UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund and UN Office for Project Services.
Before joining Kenya’s Mission to the UN in New York, Kimani was the Director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre and President’s Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism from 2015 to 2020.
Also during that period, Kimani was Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat.
During the same time, Kimani was the Director of Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
Kimani earned his doctorate degree and masters in War Studies from King’s College, London, in the United Kingdom. Additionally, he has a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of New Hampshire, United States of America.
This nomination makes the long list of Kenyans who have occupied senior positions in the UN.
Amongst them is Monica Juma, who was appointed Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime in March 2026.
Monica became the highest ranked Kenyan officer in the UN system, and the second African to occupy that post.
