In 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated former Budalangi MP, Ababu Namwamba to serve as the Chief Administrative Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 2018.
Uhuru's announcement on January 26, 2018, caught Kenyans by surprise as he had introduced the controversial CAS position after his re-election appointing politicians who had supported him but lost in the 2017 general election including Rachel Shebesh and Hussein Dado.
Ababu's job has enabled him to tour a host of countries globally, engaging several dignitaries from around the world, most recently, the Queen mother of Bhutan and the state secretary for Foreign & European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.
However, the CAS is no fan of keeping a low profile. Ababu's active social media life sells the image of his job, portraying the glamour that came with it.
The former Budalangi legislator has toured several countries in the past few years, sharing every moment with the public via his social media posts, the photos and even videos of the beautiful sceneries in all the cities he has visited and the varieties of exotic foods, whenever he partakes.
As a CAS with a mandate for international relations and bilateral talks, Ababu sure does know to balance his work and pleasure.
In early October, Ababu was with his family in Greece. Though in the country for a diplomatic jurisdiction, the CAS had time to tour the country with his family. They toured the Greek capital of Athens and the beautiful island of Santorini.
The level of prestige held by Ababu's office can be evidenced by the number of countries he tours in a short span of time.
For example, the CAS has been in Ethiopia, Bhutan, Austria, and Slovakia since November 10 and November 14.
Ababu previously served as the minister for Sports and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. His reign is remembered for enactment of the long desired Sports Act, actualizing the National Youth Council, strengthening of the National Youth Service (NYS) and streamlining the National Youth Enterprise Fund.
Ababu served as previously served as a MP for two terms in the 10th and 11th Parliament. He has vast experience as a legislator and chaired key house committees such as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review, Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
He also set a record for the highest number of private member’s motions and bills in the 10th and 11th parliament, respectively, a resume that directly influenced his appointment into the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
