Kenya has secured another senior position within the United Nations after Ambassador Martin Kimani was appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO).
UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment on September 15, 2026. Kimani succeeds Ghana’s Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, who previously held the position.
The appointment places Kimani in a senior UN role dealing with political affairs, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peace operations across Africa.
Kimani brings extensive diplomatic experience
Kimani has more than 25 years of experience in international relations, peace and security and multilateral diplomacy.
He previously served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York between 2020 and 2024.
During Kenya’s tenure 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 2023, he served as president of the executive boards of the UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund and UN Office for Project Services.
Before his diplomatic posting in New York, Kimani served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat from 2012 to 2015.
He was also director of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism between 2011 and 2012.
From counterterrorism to international diplomacy
Kimani’s government experience includes serving as director of Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Centre and as the President’s Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism between 2015 and 2020.
Outside government, he has held senior positions in international policy and development organisations, including The Africa Center, New York University’s Center on International Cooperation and the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center.
His academic background includes a PhD and master’s degree in War Studies from King’s College London and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of New Hampshire.
What will Kimani do at the UN?
The DPPA is responsible for helping the UN prevent conflicts and support political solutions to crises.
Its work includes preventive diplomacy, mediation, political negotiations, peacebuilding, early warning and political analysis. The department also supports electoral processes and works with regional organisations and governments to address political crises.
Kimani’s new position therefore places him at the centre of UN efforts to respond to political and security challenges affecting African countries.
His experience in conflict prevention, counterterrorism, diplomacy and regional affairs is expected to be particularly relevant to the role.
Another senior international role for Kenya
Kimani’s appointment adds to Kenya’s representation in senior international institutions and gives Nairobi another voice in multilateral discussions on peace and security.
It also comes as the UN continues to strengthen cooperation with African regional organisations on conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
For Kimani, the new assignment marks a return to a senior UN role after his tenure as Kenya’s ambassador to the organisation and expands his responsibilities from representing Kenya to working within the UN system on political and peacebuilding affairs across the continent.
