Former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba Gets New International Role
Former Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba has taken on a new leadership position as the President of the Africa-China Legal Alliance.
Namwamba announced the news on July 4, sharing that he has officially assumed the leadership of the G77 and China group, taking over from Egypt’s Ambassador Wael Nasreidin Attiya. The ceremony took place at the United Nations Complex in Nairobi.
The Group of 77 (G77), in collaboration with China, is a major coalition of developing nations within the United Nations system. Its mission is to represent and push for the economic priorities and development goals of Global South countries.
The group works closely with China to ensure the voices of these nations are heard in international forums.
According to Namwamba, the G77 and China was established in 1964 by 77 developing countries that came together to advocate for their shared economic interests and to strengthen their influence in international negotiations.
“During the handover ceremony hosted at the UN Complex, I officially took over the leadership of the G77+China from His Excellency Wael Nasreidin Attiya, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Kenya feels deeply honoured to chair the Nairobi Chapter of this important global alliance,” Namwamba said in his statement.
He highlighted that the G77+China now has 134 member states, making it the largest coalition of developing countries within the United Nations.
Namwamba noted that the group plays a vital role in enhancing South-South cooperation, where developing countries work together to support each other’s growth and development.
In his acceptance speech, Namwamba praised Egypt and Ambassador Attiya for their strong and effective leadership of the group.
He expressed his commitment to continuing that spirit of cooperation, respect, and unity while serving in the new role. “I sincerely commended Egypt for its outstanding leadership and pledged to build on the foundation of mutual understanding and collective progress that has already been laid down,” he added.
Namwamba also emphasized the significance of Nairobi as a global centre for environmental diplomacy. He reminded stakeholders that Nairobi hosts key international bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
He pointed out that Nairobi’s leadership in sustainability and environmental affairs makes it a fitting location for the G77+China’s Nairobi Chapter.
Furthermore, Namwamba stressed the need for developing nations to stand united and speak with one voice on global issues.
He said it’s important for the G77+China to form common positions, especially in key events like the upcoming Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA7), where crucial decisions about the environment will be made.
This new position comes months after Namwamba was dropped from President William Ruto’s Cabinet during the reshuffle that was announced on July 24, 2024. After leaving government, he took some time off from public life before returning to the international stage with this new assignment.
Before becoming Sports CS, Namwamba had an active political and diplomatic career. Between 2018 and 2022, he served as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked on international relations and diplomacy.
He also represented Budalangi Constituency as a Member of Parliament for ten years, from 2007 to 2017.
With his latest appointment, Namwamba returns to a prominent leadership role, now representing Kenya and Africa on a broader global platform, as he leads discussions that aim to improve development cooperation and environmental diplomacy among developing nations and China.
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