Raychelle Omamo

Raychelle Omamo (born July 1962) is a Kenyan lawyer, diplomat, and former government minister. She was Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2022, and the Minister for Defence from 2013 to 2020. She was the first woman to serve as Defence Minister in Kenya.

 Early life and education 
Omamo was born in Bondo, Kenya. She is the daughter of former minister William Odongo Omamo. She studied law at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.

 Career 
Omamo started her career as a lawyer. She was the first woman to lead the Law Society of Kenya from 2001 to 2003. In 2012, she became a Senior Counsel. She also helped form Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

She served as Kenya's first female ambassador to France, and was also accredited to Spain, Portugal, Serbia, and the Holy See. She was also Kenya’s representative to UNESCO.

From 2013 to 2020, she was the Cabinet Secretary for Defence. In 2020, she became Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a position she held until 2022. That year, she ran to become the head of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), but did not win.Stanley Ongwae (25 June 2022), Foreign Affairs CS Omamo gunning for first IFAD female president The Standard.

 References 

Category:Living people
Category:1962 births
Category:Kenyan lawyers
Category:Diplomats
Category:Government ministers
Category:Kenyan people