Kenya has shifted its stance on the next Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), nominating Veronica Mueni Nduva instead of Caroline Mwende Mueke. In March, Kenya had proposed Mueke as the new EAC Secretary General to replace her compatriot Peter Mathuki who was then appointed as Kenya’s Ambassador to Russia.

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The latest change was announced a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the bloc’s Secretary General, which was expected to take place on Tuesday, April 16, during an EAC Council of Ministers meeting.

In a letter addressed to Deng Alor Kuol, South Sudan’s Minister for EAC Affairs, by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Peninah Malonza, the reasons for the sudden change were not mentioned.

Nduva is the current Principal Secretary in the Department of Performance and Delivery Management in the Ministry of Public Service in Kenya.

According to EAC protocol, the eligible Head of State nominates a candidate who is then approved by the Summit of EAC Heads of State. The position is rotational among member states and the occupants serve for five years.

Mathuki officially assumed office in April 2021 and had served for three years before he was appointed Ambassador to Russia.