LONDON—Hundreds gathered in Mitcham, South London, over the weekend to bid farewell to Ambassador Dr Joseph Warui, who has been redeployed as Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Moscow, Russia.
Dr Warui, the former Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenya High Commission in the United Kingdom, will be replaced by Maurice Makoloo, the new High Commissioner.
In his farewell speech, the outgoing envoy thanked the Kenyan community in the UK for their support during his posting. He specifically acknowledged the business community and the political class for their contributions.
“My stay here in the UK was made pleasant by people like my dear sister Asha,” Dr Warui said. He was referring to Asha Sheikh Ukash, alias ‘Asha Kiwi’, a political figure from Wajir who vied for the position of Woman Rep in 2022.
“She was among the few Kenyans who welcomed me upon my arrival and has been a key figure throughout my tenure. Thank you, my sister,” he added.
Dr Warui described the event as “a night of farewell that reflected the unity, dignity, and shared purpose of our Kenyan community.”
Members of the Kenyan diaspora praised the ambassador for his dedication and unwavering support to the community during his time in the UK. The farewell event was also attended by the new High Commissioner, Maurice Makoloo.
Dr Warui thanked the Kenyan community and President William Ruto, while pledging to continue advancing Kenya’s interests in his new diplomatic role in Moscow.
