Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has landed a new job as the President of the Africa‑China Legal Alliance.
Namwamba confirmed his appointment on July 4, stating that he formally assumed leadership of the G77 and China from Egyptian Ambassador Wael Nasreidin Attiya, at the United Nations Complex.
The Group of 77 (G77) is a coalition of developing countries within the United Nations. It works with China to advocate for the needs and priorities of developing nations within the UN system.
According to Namwamba, the G77 and China were founded in 1964 by 77 countries to promote its members' collective economic interests and enhance joint negotiating capacity.
"In a ceremony hosted at the UN Complex, I formally assumed leadership of the G77+China from H.E. Wael Nasreidin Attiya, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Kenya is honoured to take the Chair of this important group's Nairobi Chapter," his statement reads.
He added that the organization has 134 member states, making it the largest coalition in the UN ecosystem, playing a great role in South-South cooperation.
Namwamba, in his statement, commended leaders for the mutual respect between China and Egypt.
"In my acceptance speech, I commended H.E. Attiya and Egypt for the exemplary leadership of the group, and committed to maintaining the trajectory of consensus and mutual respect in pursuing the shared interests of the G77+China," he added.
He explained the status of Nairobi as the global capital for environmental diplomacy, being the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-Habitat).
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of mobilizing common positions at key junctures like the forthcoming Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly(UNEA7).
This role came after he was replaced in President William Ruto’s cabinet when new cabinets were announced on July 24, 2024. After that, he took time off from the office.
Before joining the cabinet, Namwamba also served as the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022.
He also served as a Member of Parliament for Budalangi for a period of 10 years, from 2007 to 2017.
