Former Cabinet minister and veteran diplomat Burudi Nabwera has died aged 99, bringing to a close a public service career that spanned diplomacy, government and elective politics.
Nabwera served as Kenya’s first ambassador to the United States, the country’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Minister of State in the Office of the President.
He also became the first Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency after it was established in 1988.
Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya led tributes to the veteran leader, describing him as a distinguished public servant who served the country with dedication and honour.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Mzee Burudi Nabwera, a distinguished leader and diplomat who served our nation with dedication and honour,” Oparanya said.
“His contribution to Kenya’s diplomatic relations, governance and national development will remain etched in our history,” he added.
Key Role in Kenya’s Early Diplomacy
Nabwera played a significant role in Kenya’s diplomatic engagement in the years following independence.
He served as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from December 1963 to September 1970 before becoming Kenya’s first ambassador to the United States.
His diplomatic career placed him among the officials who helped establish Kenya’s international relations during the early years of independence.
Served in Moi Government and KANU
Beyond diplomacy, Nabwera held the position of Minister of State in the Office of former President Daniel arap Moi.
He also served as Secretary-General of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party that dominated Kenyan politics for decades before the introduction of multiparty democracy.
Nabwera later moved into elective politics, becoming the inaugural MP for Lugari Constituency after its creation in 1988.
His career spanned several key chapters in Kenya’s political history, from the early post-independence period and the one-party era to the development of constituency-based representation.
His death has prompted tributes highlighting his contribution to Kenya’s diplomacy, public administration and political leadership.
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