The United Kingdom (UK) has appointed a new British High Commissioner to Kenya to replace Jane Marriot, whose tenure in office in the country ends on June 30, 2023.

Marriot, who duty in Kenya spanned four years, will be replaced by Desmond Patrick Neil Wigan (OBE), who will take up his new appointment to Nairobi from July 1, 2023.

“Mr Neil Wigan OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya in succession to Ms Jane Marriott who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Wigan will take up his appointment during July 2023,” announced UK.

Marriot will be taking up a new diplomatic posting from London as she says kwaheri to Kenya at rthe end of June.

“After four amazing years, my time in Kenya is up in June - I will miss Kenya and Kenyans enormously,” said Marriot on her Twitter page.

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She added, “Make sure to follow my successor @FCDONeilWigan - look out for more soon on what we achieve together, #tufaulupamoja. I’ll be popping up in another role in July.”

Before Nairobi, Marriot served as: joint FCDO Director for the Middle East and North Africa; Ambassador to Sana'a, Yemen (2013-15); Deputy and Acting Ambassador to Tehran; and as an adviser to the US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke.


Neil Wigan. PHOTO/COURTESY

On the other hand, Neil Wigan was previously serving as the UK Ambassador to Tel Aviv (2019-2023); Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Director for Africa (2015-2018).

Before that he served as UK Ambassador to Mogadishu (2013-2015), UK ambassador to Kinshasa (2010-2013) and Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat Cabinet Office Deputy Director (2008-2010).

Wigan, who is married with two children, also worked head of FCO Arab Israel and North Africa Group (2006-2008), First Secretary and Head of Political Section in Tel Aviv (2002-2006) and FCO Desk Officer for European Union Department (2000-2002) after joining FCO in 2000.