Jane Marriott named as new British envoy to Kenya

Jane Marriott has been appointed British High Commissioner to Kenya to replace Nick Hailey, whose tour of duty ends this year.

In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said Ms Marriott will take up her appointment this summer.

“Very excited about my new role and looking forward to building on the relationship and partnership between our two countries,” she tweeted.

She is currently the Director, Joint International Counter-Terrorism Unit in the FCO/Home Office.

Previously, she has served as Additional Director, Middle East and North Africa Directorate; Ambassador to Yemen; Deputy Director, Americas, Middle East and Africa at the National Security Council and Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Head of Mission in Tehran, Iran, among others.

She first joined the Cabinet Office in 1998 during which she served in Foreign Policy Secretariat, the Home Office Criminal Justice Bill Team, and on Diversity Policy.

She will become the first woman to serve as British high commissioner in Nairobi since independence.