Kenyan envoy to head Unicef board

Kenya's ambassador to the UN Macharia Kamau. PHOTO | FILE   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• He will serve in the new capacity for a period of one year.
• Mr Kamau takes over from Amb Jarmo Viinanen, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, who represented the Western European Group.

 

By B M J Muriithi
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Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Macharia Kamau has been appointed as the new president of the agency's Children Fund.

A statement from the organisation’s headquarters in New York says the envoy will serve in the new capacity for a period of one year.

“We are delighted to have Ambassador Kamau steer the Board for a period of twelve months,” said Unicef Chief Executive Officer Anthony Lake in a media briefing on Monday.

Mr Kamau takes over from Amb Jarmo Viinanen, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, who represented the Western European Group.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs ministry sent a congratulatory message to the envoy saying he deserves the coveted position.

“Kamau has achieved tremendous success in many respects and he was able to oversee the implementation of key projects which saw alleviation of the suffering of many children in the continent of Africa, where most of his tour of duty was served,” read the statement.

Prior to the new appointment, Mr Kamau served as the Vice-President of the Unicef Executive Board representing the African Group at the UN.

PROVIDE FOOD

Unicef provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

It is one of the members of the UN Development Group and its Executive Committee.

The Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II.

In 1953, the agency became a permanent part of the United Nations System.

The Executive Board is the governing body of Unicef, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization in accordance with the overall policy guidelines of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.

It is mandated to review Unicef activities and approve its policies, country programmes and budgets.

36 members represent the five regional groups of Member States at the United Nations whose work is coordinated by the Bureau, comprising the President and four Vice-Presidents.