Amina Mohamed began her public service trajectory in 1985 as a legal officer for the Kenyan Ministry of Local Government. Over the subsequent decades, she transitioned into a key figure in international diplomacy, eventually holding high-level ministerial positions within the Kenyan government while shaping the nation's foreign policy through extensive multilateral negotiations and United Nations institutional roles.
Early Education and Legal Foundations
Born in 1961 in Kakamega, Kenya, Mohamed completed her secondary studies at Butere Girls High School. She pursued higher education abroad, earning a Master of Laws degree from the Taras Ševčenko National University of Kyiv. She furthered her academic qualifications with a Postgraduate Diploma in international relations from the University of Oxford. These credentials provided the professional basis for her entry into the Kenyan civil service.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Multilateral Diplomacy in Geneva
From 1990 to 1993, Mohamed served as a legal advisor for Kenya's diplomatic mission at the United Nations in Geneva. She returned to the region as Ambassador and Permanent Representative between 2000 and 2006. During this period, she held multiple international leadership roles, including serving as the first female chairperson of the International Organization for Migration and the first woman to chair the World Trade Organization's General Council.
Domestic Ministerial Roles
Mohamed transitioned to cabinet-level governance in 2013, when she was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya. She held this portfolio until 2018. Following this, she served as the Minister of Education of Kenya from 2018 to 2019. Her final major cabinet role was as the Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, a position she occupied from 2019 until 2022.
Institutional Contributions
Beyond her cabinet duties, Mohamed maintained an active presence in international governance. She served as the Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. In 2010, she supervised the redrafting of the Constitution of Kenya while serving as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Kakamega, Kenya
- Education: University of Oxford, Taras Ševčenko National University of Kyiv
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: 2013-2018
- Minister of Education: 2018-2019
- Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage: 2019-2022
- Awards: Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Awards: Order of the Rising Sun
- Languages: English, Somali, Russian, Swahili, French
Questions readers ask
What ministerial roles did Amina Mohamed hold in Kenya?
She served as the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Education, and Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage.
Did Amina Mohamed work for the United Nations?
Yes, she held several roles including Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Achievements
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya (2013–2018)
- Minister of Education of Kenya (2018–2019)
- Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage (2019–2022)
- Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Order of the Rising Sun
- Educated at University of Oxford and Institute of International Relations of Taras Ševčenko National University of Kjiv
.jpg)
