Kenya’s veteran diplomat and former National Security Adviser Monica Juma has officially taken up one of the most senior positions within the United Nations after being sworn in as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where Juma took the oath of office before UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In her remarks after the ceremony, Juma said she was deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with serving in the international civil service and pledged to carry out her duties with integrity, impartiality and dedication to the values of the United Nations.
“As I solemnly declared my dedication to carry out these functions with integrity, impartiality and the utmost regard for the purposes and principles of the United Nations, I reflected on the responsibility that comes with this trust,” she said.
Juma added that she was assuming the role with humility, gratitude and a strong commitment to advancing peace, security, justice and the rule of law around the world.
“I step into this role with humility, gratitude and a profound sense of duty. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across the UN system and around the world to advance peace, security, justice and the rule of law for a more prosperous and dignified future for all,” she said.
Her appointment places Kenya at the helm of one of the UN’s most influential agencies, which leads global efforts to combat organised crime, corruption, terrorism, drug trafficking and other cross-border security threats.
For Kenya, the appointment is being viewed as another sign of the country’s growing influence on the international stage, with Juma becoming one of the few Kenyans to occupy such a senior leadership position within the United Nations system.
She has extensive experience in diplomatic services and security matters.
Before joining the UN, Juma worked as Kenya’s first National Security Advisor and the Secretary of the National Security Council between 2022 and 2026. This role put her in the limelight because she made critical decisions relating to the country’s security and foreign policies.
In addition, Juma served in various cabinet roles like that of Defense Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, and Energy Cabinet Secretary. She was also acting Cabinet Secretary in petroleum and mining between 2018 and 2022.
During the earlier part of her career, she was appointed Principal Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Defence.
Juma has also held diplomatic positions in which she acted as Ambassador of Kenya to Ethiopia and Djibouti, and Permanent Representative to the African Union, IGAD and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Apart from having held various leadership positions in the public sector, Juma has made remarkable achievements in the academic world. This is evident through her appointments in various institutions such as the African Centre for Strategic Studies of the National Defence University in Washington, D.C., the University of Pretoria and the Africa Institute of South Africa.
She holds a doctorate degree awarded by the University of Oxford and has received a Certificate in Refugee Studies from the University of Oxford. She previously graduated with a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Public Administration from the University of Nairobi.
As Juma takes up her new post in Vienna, she will be expected to spearhead international cooperation geared towards dealing with new international crimes such as cyber crime, terrorism financing, trafficking, corruption and drug-related crimes among others.
This appointment is a landmark achievement not only for her career but also for Kenya’s presence within global governance and international diplomacy.