Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed picks UoN graduate as Kenyan envoy

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) shakes hands with Mr Meles Alem, who has been picked to be Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (centre) looks at a past function. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • He replaces Dina Mufti Sid, who has been redeployed to Egypt in the same capacity.
  • An alumnus of the University of Nairobi, Mr Alem previously served as head of diaspora affairs at the embassy in Nairobi between 2011 and 2015.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has picked Mr Meles Alem as Ethiopia’s next ambassador to Kenya.

He replaces Dina Mufti Sid, who has been redeployed to Egypt in the same capacity.

An alumnus of the University of Nairobi, Mr Alem previously served as head of diaspora affairs at the embassy in Nairobi between 2011 and 2015.

It is during this time that he enrolled and graduated with a Masters degree from the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies in 2015.

An elated Mr Alem told the Nation from Addis Ababa on Monday that he was grateful to the Ethiopian government for his appointment and said he will work hard to strengthen and deepen ties with Nairobi when he formally takes over.

“The relationship between the countries is exemplary in the region and my task will be to strengthen and deepen these ties further,” he said.

Describing Kenyans and Ethiopians as one people living into two different places, the incoming envoy said they have a lot in common because of strong historical ties stretching back to the regime of presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Haile Selassie.

“It is this passion that I will bring to Kenya when I finally take over.”​