The State Department for Foreign Affairs has confirmed leadership changes following the formal handover of the Policy, Research, and Strategic Analysis Directorate.

In a ceremony presided over by the Director-General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs, Ambassador Josphat Maikara, on Friday, December 19, 2025, Ambassador Lucy Kiruthu officially handed over her responsibilities to Ibrahim Mustapha, the incoming Deputy Director-General and Head of the Directorate.

Ambassador Kiruthu is set to proceed to the Kingdom of Thailand, where she will serve as Kenya’s ambassador. Her new appointment comes after a distinguished diplomatic career marked by senior roles within the ministry and abroad.

She previously served as Acting Director-General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Kenya Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Mustapha’s new roles

Mustapha now assumes leadership of the Policy, Research and Strategic Analysis Directorate, a critical arm of the Ministry responsible for shaping the analytical and strategic foundations of Kenya’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagements.

In his new role, he will oversee policy formulation, strategic research, and analysis that guide Kenya’s interactions on the global stage.

”The ceremony underscored the Ministry’s commitment to seamless leadership transitions and the strategic deployment of senior diplomatic talent to advance Kenya’s national interests at headquarters and in missions abroad,” a statement from the State Department for Foreign Affairs reads in part.

Kiruthu’s remarks

In her remarks, Ambassador Kiruthu highlighted the central role of the directorate in ensuring policy coherence and strategic analysis, expressed confidence in Mustapha’s leadership, and thanked the ministry’s leadership and colleagues for their support. Ambassador Maikara reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to continuity and effective stewardship of Kenya’s foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the transition marks another step in the State Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s diplomatic architecture as the country navigates an increasingly complex global environment.