Ababu Namwamba mourns death of his security aide
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ababu Namwamba, is in mourning the death of his security aide, Corporal Jonah Kemboi Rotich, who served him faithfully for 18 years.
In a heartfelt message shared on his official X account on Sunday, May 25, 2025, Namwamba paid tribute to Rotich, calling him more than just a bodyguard.
Namwamba spoke with deep affection about the close relationship he and his family shared with Rotich. He described him as a calm, loyal, and deeply honest man who stood by his side through many seasons of life in work, travel, parenting, and faith.
He said that he and Rotich shared a strong bond, even though they came from different religious backgrounds. Namwamba is a Catholic, while Rotich was a committed Seventh Day Adventist.
“For eighteen years, Corporal Jonah Kemboi Rotich has been more than just a trusted security aide to me. He has been a cherished brother and a true friend. Family in every sense. Professional yet humane, humble yet firm, loyal and honest beyond a morsel of doubt, he has been an ever presence around me in all situations,” Namwamba shared.
Adding;
“We have worked. We have travelled the world. We have dreamt. We have raised our children. We have built one large family. And worshipped our one true God, I as a committed Catholic, he a dedicated Seventh Day Adventist.”
The diplomat also reflected on how Rotich represented something greater, the possibility of national unity across tribal lines. He noted how Rotich felt at home in his Luhya community in Western Kenya, just as he was welcomed in Rotich’s Kalenjin roots in Cherangany and Eldoret.
Namwamba said this deep connection challenged the divisions often seen in Kenyan society.
“My family and I have felt safe with Rotich. And that counts for a lot in a society that is obsessed with elevating parochial tribal sectionalism above the purity of human connection… A living testimony of how to forge a unified nation beyond myopic profiling and puerile ethnic jingoism,” Namwamba shared.
According to Namwamba, Rotich passed away after a long and courageous fight with multiple health conditions. Despite the pain and hardship, he bore the illness with strength and grace.
“We are devastated by this painful loss, and commit his soul to the Good Lord as we pray that his family finds comfort in the bosom of Christ,” Namwamba said.
Rotich will be buried on June 3, 2025, at his home in Eldoret.
