About Hon. Ababu Terrah Namwamba

Ababu Namwamba was born on December 23rd, 1975 in Jinja, Uganda to Kenyan parents. His father’s name is Peter Namwamba Lwecheche, while his mother’s name is Agatha Maina Namwamba. He spent his early life in both Kenya and Uganda. Namwamba is the last child of a family of eight children, six boys, and two girls. His family relocated to Kenya because of Idi Amin’s reign of terror.

Namwamba went to Milimani Nursery, Eldoret, Port Victoria Primary School, Western before proceeding to Kolanya Boys High School, Teso North.

Pursued and Obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree. While still a student at the institution, he was voted student leader.

Graduated. During this period, he chaired the Kenya Law Students Society and had the opportunity to meet notable persons such as former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. This broadened his horizons, and he realized he wanted to work in diplomacy.

Graduated with a Master of Law degree.

Served

Served as Chief Counsel. He fight for the right of children living with HIV/AIDS to attend public schools in 2003. He filed the case after two schools in Ngong and Karen stopped children from Nyumbani from attending school due to their HIV status. He won the 2004 Global Justice Award for the case, which he received in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 2004, he won a terrorism case where his client, a Kenyan-born Pakistani, was wrongfully accused of terrorism. As counsel for Swiss national Marianne Brynner, Ababu Namwamba played a vital role in 2004/2005 in an investigation into the mysterious death of former Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister, the late Dr. Robert Ouko. Namwamba was active on the international lobbying circuit, strongly advocating for international human rights, fair trade practices, and debt relief for Africa through platforms like the World Social Forum in such far-flung locations as Mumbai, India, and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The private charity supports the education of young Kenyans across the country from primary level to university. The Foundation has consistently touched and transformed the lives of hundreds of people across Kenya. From Kajiado to Turkana, Kipkelion in Kericho County to Meru, from Busia to Mombasa, the Foundation has opened door after door of opportunity for students, youth, women and centres of learning.

n 2006, he joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and vied and won the Budalangi constituency parliamentary seat under the party ticket. He was also the party’s parliamentary secretary from 2008 to 2013 and Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2012 to 2013. In 2016, he quit ODM and joined the Labor Party of Kenya where he has been the leader to date. In 2017, the party announced its support for President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ababu lost his Budalangi seat the same year. From 2018 till 2022, he served as the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He serves as the Sports CS in President William Ruto regime.

HON ABABU-TERRAH NAMWAMBA, EGH DEPUTY MINISTER (CAS) FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AWARDEE OF THE VOICE ACHIEVERS AFRICAN INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD, 2019 Hon Ababu-Terrah Namwamba, EGH is the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (CAS) of the Republic of Kenya. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree from American University, Washington College of Law in Washington DC, USA; a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from the University of Nairobi; and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kenya School of Law. Hon Ababu-Terrah is a top achiever in leadership spanning government, politics, diplomacy, philanthropy, civil society and human rights protection. Having come to the leadership scene as a youth, he has and continues to inspire legions of young people in Kenya and across Africa. As Kenya’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs today, he is making an indelible footprint on the diplomatic scene, significantly contributing to key African agenda like the South Sudan peace deal that he recently helped negotiate, helping reconcile fierce protagonists President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar Tieny through IGAD. He is also playing a significant role in promoting the agenda of African integration through increased intra-Africa trade and buttressing of shared values on democracy, governance, integrity, peace and security. He is a true believer and driver of Afrocentrism, pan-Africanism and shared continental prosperity. Hon Ababu also served as Kenya’s Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs at a very youthful age. His remarkably vibrant reign is best remembered for enactment of the long desired Sports Act, actualising the National Youth Council, enhancing the National Youth Service (NYS) and streamlining the National Youth Enterprise Fund. Eloquent, a consumate reader and writer, fierce debater and ever the King of dapper, Hon Ababu boasts of vast experience as a Legislator and a political leader, having been a Member of Parliament for ten years and rising to be Secretary General of ODM Party and the Party Leader of Labour Party. As a young first time Member of Parliament, he incredibly helped deliver Kenya’s new Constitution when he co-Chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution Review that midwifed the historic process. He also chaired other key parliamentary committees like Justice & Legal Affairs Committee and Public Accounts Committee. Ababu also set the record for the highest number of Private Member’s Motions and Bills in both the 10th and 11th Parliaments. He significantly helped find a lasting solution to the perennial flooding menace in his Budalangi Constituency and elevated the area to both national and international prominence. Hon Ababu-Terrah also epitomises the spirit of resilience, sacrifice and standing firm for what you believe in, no matter the odds. This is truly incredible for someone who has also emerged to symbolise political tolerance, moderation and accommodation in Kenya. For sixteen years since 2003, Ababu has made immense contributions to charity through his Ababu Namwamba Foundation (ANF). The Foundation, which works through the three focal program areas of Education, Talent Growth and Economic Empowerment has helped educate, mentor and launch careers of hundreds of young people across Kenya and Africa, and supported dozens of income generating initiatives across communities. A true reflection of the Foundation's mantra of "Opening Doors of Opportunity". Among ANF's key partners are Safaricom Foundation, Chandaria Foundation and Ahadi Trust. The erudite American and Kenyan trained Attorney also has an equally impressive profile in public interest litigation, having launched his legal career as Chief Counsel at the The Chambers of Justice which he founded alongside his private legal practice, Ababu Namwamba Attorneys-at-Law. An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, he has won some major court battles for expansion of civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. He has also previously been active on the international lobbying circuit, strongly advocating for international human rights and fair trade practices for Africa and the global south generally. Ababu is also an avid writer, authoring various publications and has been a respected columnist with the Sunday Nation and Standard on Sunday, Kenya’s top two newspapers. Hon Ababu-Terrah's outstanding achievements have been recognised multiple times in Kenya and beyond. In 2012, Kenya’s then President Mwai Kibaki bestowed him with the Order of the Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH), the highest civilian national honour in Kenya. In 2015 he won the OLX Legislator of the Year Award. In 2009 he was inducted onto the roll of Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Hon Ababu also won the 2003/4 Global Social Justice Award by Jubilee Netherlands for his landmark work at The Chambers of Justice, including the CADEC Debt Relief for Africa campaign. He received the award in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the words of John Quincy Adams, 6th US President “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Hon Ababu-Terrah Namwamba, EGH by his word and deed has and continues to inspire the youth of Africa to dream more, learn more, do more and become more. Ababu-Terrah indeed is a worthy recipient of the VOICE ACHIEVERS AFRICAN INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD, 2019. No doubt this award will further serve to inspire even more African youth through this fine son of our continent. It is a fitting tribute to the depth of brains, innovation and strength of the young people of Africa. The Voice Achievers Award 2019 Selection Committee The Netherlands🇳🇱