Monica Juma, the National Security Advisor to President William Ruto and Secretary to the National Security Council, has been named the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).
Reports indicate that she was appointed to the dual role by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
The appointment which was announced by the United Nations on Friday, March 6, 2026, will see Juma succeed Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, who served a six-year term from 2020 to 2026.
“United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Monica Kathina Juma of Kenya as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV),” the UN said in a statement.
“Juma is a strategic senior leader with a depth of expertise, experience and knowledge spanning public policy making, execution and academia across critical areas of security, diplomacy and governance,” the statement added.
President William Ruto also congratulated Monica Juma on her appointment as the Executive Director of UNODC and Director General of UN Office in Vienna.
“Her stellar performance in the appointments bestowed upon her, with the most recent one being as my National Security Advisor and Secretary to the National Security Council, have been recognised beyond our borders”, the Head of State said.
“I thank Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres for appointing not just a Kenyan but a woman leader and for doing this especially in this month when we celebrate women’s achievements”, He added.
