From varsity lecturer to Kenya’s youngest Foreign Affairs PS: The story of Dr Sally Kosgei
Former Head of Public Service Sally Kosgei delivers her speech after she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Annual Diplomatic Awards in Nairobi on October 3, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Dr Sally Kosgei, one of Kenya’s most distinguished diplomats and politicians, has revealed that her entry into public service was by accident.
From representing Kenya in London to heading the Public Service and Agriculture Ministry, she remains an icon of leadership and women’s empowerment.
Some careers are meticulously planned, others unfold by chance. For Dr Sally Kosgei, a casual glance at a newspaper advertisement would set in motion a three-decade journey through the highest echelons of Kenya's public service—a path that would see her break glass ceilings and make history at every turn.
Then a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Dr Kosgei spotted a job advertisement by the Public Service Commission in a local newspaper and decided to apply. That spontaneous decision became the first step in a remarkable career spanning diplomacy, high-level public service, and politics.
Dr Kosgei shared her story during the launch of the African Women in Diplomacy and International Affairs Initiative, held recently at the Annual Diplomatic Awards where she was among several Kenyans honoured by the International Relations Society of Kenya, Comesa, and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for outstanding contribution to diplomacy and international relations.
"I had not planned to join public service," she recounted. After being shortlisted and succeeding in the interview, she was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, beginning a decade-long tenure that would later include service at the African Division of UN-Habitat in Nairobi and a diplomatic posting in Zimbabwe.
Her trajectory was nothing short of extraordinary. She was appointed Kenya's ambassador to Zimbabwe before being named High Commissioner to the United Kingdom—though she initially hesitated to accept the latter posting.
"I had initially declined the appointment. I was the youngest ambassador ever posted to the UK to represent my country. At that time, the UK was a key player in international and governmental decision-making," she said.
Dr Kosgei served as Kenya's ambassador to the UK during Margaret Thatcher's premiership, an experience she describes as inspiring and empowering. Her exemplary service earned her a promotion to Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a position she held for 10 years—the youngest and longest-serving PS in that docket.
Among her most memorable moments, she recalls overseeing the state visit of Prime Minister Thatcher and witnessing the revival of the East African Community. "I was a desk officer when the EAC collapsed in 1977, so being part of its revival was deeply fulfilling," she said.
But her rise didn't stop there. She eventually became Head of Public Service during the final years of President Daniel arap Moi's administration—a position she lost during President Mwai Kibaki's reign.
In 2007, she ventured into politics, successfully contesting the Aldai parliamentary seat. She was later appointed Minister for Agriculture in the Grand Coalition Government formed by President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga after the disputed 2007 presidential election. Once again, she made history as the first woman to head the Agriculture Ministry.
One encounter with President Kibaki remains particularly vivid in her memory. "He asked me to travel to Tanzania on a special assignment to assist then-President Jakaya Kikwete in drafting a proposal for funding from the United States. I initially declined, but he insisted, saying President Kikwete had told him I was clever. Later, President Kibaki thanked me, saying I had made him proud," she recalled.
To women pursuing or aspiring to enter diplomacy, Dr Kosgei's advice is clear: hard work, confidence, and continuous learning are non-negotiable.
"Always ensure you are knowledgeable in your field. That way, no one will look down on you. I always made sure I knew more than others and stood my ground when I was right. Don't be laid back waiting for recognition—earn it," she said.
She cautioned women against laziness, lateness, and sloppy work, urging them to uphold discipline and excellence in their duties.
A career public servant for more than 30 years and a politician for five, Dr Kosgei is an alumna of Alliance Girls High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Dar es Salaam, and both a Master's and PhD in African Economic History from Stanford University, USA.
