President William Ruto has implemented a reshuffle within Kenya’s foreign service, reassigning high-profile diplomats to key regional and international outposts.

In a statement released on Jan.21st 2026 by the the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, the changes were described as essential for filling vacancies created by the completion of service terms for several outgoing ambassadors.

The most notable shift involves former Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who has been reassigned as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Kampala, Uganda.

The move comes just six months after Namwamba was appointed as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.

His deployment to Kampala is seen as a strategic move to strengthen bilateral relations within the East African Community, given the deep economic and historical ties between Kenya and its neighbor.

Joash Maangi, who has served as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda since 2024, has now been promoted to a major global stage.

Maangi is now the designated Ambassador to Brussels, Belgium, where he will also represent Kenya’s interests to the European Union (EU).

Maangi takes over in Brussels from Prof. Bitange Ndemo, a career diplomat and ICT expert who was appointed to the post in 2022.

Prof. Ndemo’s departure follows a period of transition in his professional career, including a recent nomination for a top leadership role at the University of Nairobi.

Earlier this week, the President challenged his envoys to act as the country’s primary economic agents, focusing on securing foreign investment and expanding markets for Kenyan products.