Shock as Ruto appoints diplomat to rebel-held Goma in DR Congo
Ruto has nominated Ms. Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Kenya’s Consul General in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a city currently under the control of M23 rebels.
President William Ruto has nominated Ms. Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Kenya’s Consul General in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a city currently under the control of M23 rebels.
The move, which caught the region by surprise on Friday night, is likely to strain relations between Nairobi and Kinshasa.
Diplomatic appointments are traditionally communicated to and approved by the host government, and in this case, the final clearance lies with the DRC authorities in Kinshasa.
The appointment comes at a delicate time in bilateral relations.
Kenya and the DRC have previously experienced friction over Nairobi’s hosting of opposition figures critical of President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, and over allegations by Congolese officials that Kenya’s territory had been used for financial transactions linked to the M23 rebel movement — claims Nairobi has denied.
The withdrawal of Kenya’s contingent from the East African Community (EAC) Regional Force in late 2023, following disagreements with Kinshasa over the mission’s mandate, also deepened mistrust between the two capitals.
Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, remains at the epicentre of the DRC’s conflict, with M23 rebels maintaining significant territorial control despite regional and international calls for their disarmament.
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Kenya’s decision to post a top diplomat there could be perceived in Kinshasa as a unilateral move, potentially undermining the formal diplomatic process and the spirit of brotherhood between East African Community (EAC) states.
Kenya has nonetheless maintained it is committed to supporting peace and stability in eastern DRC, having hosted peace talks under the EAC-led Nairobi Process.
Ms. Nkumiri’s assignment, once cleared, would place her at the frontline of this complex security and diplomatic landscape, requiring engagement not only with local authorities but also with humanitarian agencies and regional security actors.
The appointment is part of a broader foreign service reshuffle by President Ruto, which includes new postings to London, Riyadh, Vienna, and other key diplomatic stations.
State House has described the changes as intended to optimise performance and enhance service delivery under the administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
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