NAIROBI, Kenya — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed former Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille as the new Kenya UN coordinator, with the appointment taking effect immediately following Kenyan government approval.
The Kenya UN coordinator on Wednesday sees Conille replace Dr Stephen Jackson, whose tenure announcement ended on March 31 after five years in the role.
On Tuesday, President William Ruto officially bid farewell to the outgoing coordinator at State House, thanking him for his service.
As Kenya UN coordinator, Conille will lead UN operations in the country, coordinating development initiatives, guiding humanitarian responses, and strengthening partnerships between the UN, government agencies, civil society, and international partners.
Kenya UN Coordinator Experience
Conille brings over two decades of experience to the Kenya UN coordinator role. He began his UN career in Haiti with the United Nations Population Fund in 1999 and has since held leadership positions across multiple agencies.
“He most recently served as Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNICEF, championing initiatives to improve child welfare, strengthen health systems, and address systemic inequalities,” the UN said in a statement.
The Kenya UN coordinator appointment follows similar leadership roles in Jamaica and Burundi.
Conille’s UN career includes heading the Millennium Development Goals Support Unit at UNDP and serving as Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations Office for Project Services.
Kenya UN Coordinator Political Background
Outside the UN, Conille has twice served as Prime Minister of Haiti, most recently in 2024, leading efforts to address national security challenges, governance reform, and humanitarian crises.
The Kenya UN coordinator brings rare executive political experience to the diplomatic post.
He has held senior positions with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and advised world leaders, including former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former US President Bill Clinton, as UN Special Envoy to Haiti.
Conille holds a Doctor of Medicine from the State University of Haiti and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
