President Ruto Appoints Ida Odinga as Ambassador and Promotes KPC, Safaricom IPOs - January 2026

President William Ruto made a significant governmental appointment by nominating Ida Betty Odinga, wife of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This appointment was made in acknowledgment of her service to women’s education and empowerment. Following this announcement, the Odinga family called for an emergency family meeting. In a separate development, President Ruto encouraged Kenyans to invest in the Initial Public Offers (IPOs) for the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and Safaricom. He dismissed critics of the process and emphasized that it was being handled with transparency and under the oversight of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).