Vienna, 11 May (United Nations Information Service) – Kenya’s Monica Juma today assumed the post of Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), following her appointment by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Ms. Juma said, “I feel deeply proud and honored to be leading these two offices in Vienna at a pivotal moment for multilateralism.” “I look forward to bringing my experience in defense, security, and diplomacy to the United Nations, helping it address some of today’s most pressing peace and security challenges—ranging from drugs and organized crime to corruption and terrorism—and advancing its vision of a safer, more just world.”

Ms. Juma formerly served as the first National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kenya and, from 2022 to 2026, as Secretary of the Kenyan National Security Council. Prior to this, Ms. Juma served as Cabinet Secretary in several key strategic ministries in Kenya, with primary responsibility for the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also held the post of Acting Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.

Ms. Juma also served as Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) from 2010 to 2013.

Ms. Juma holds a Ph.D. in Politics and a Certificate in Refugee Studies from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, as well as a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Public Administration from the University of Nairobi in Kenya. She speaks English, Swahili, and Kamba.