Former Haiti Prime Minister appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 2, 2026The United Nations has named Garry Conille, the former Prime Minister of Haiti, as its new resident coordinator in Kenya, a key diplomatic and development role.
He took up the post on April 1, 2026, with full approval from the Kenyan government, replacing Stephen Jackson, who ended his five‑year term on March 31, 2026.
The resident coordinator leads the United Nations country team in Kenya and serves as the secretary‑general’s principal representative on the ground. The role involves coordinating the UN’s work on development priorities with the Kenyan government, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders.
Conille brings more than 20 years of experience in international development, humanitarian work and public administration to the position. Most recently, he served as Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNICEF. In that role, he led programmes that improved child welfare, strengthened health systems and tackled inequality in the region.
Before his UNICEF post, Conille worked in several senior roles within the UN. He served as UN resident coordinator in Jamaica and in Burundi. He also led the Africa region for the United Nations Office for Project Services and headed the Millennium Development Goals Support Unit at UNDP. His UN career began in 1999 with the UN Population Fund in Haiti.
Conille brings global experience
Outside the UN system, Conille has held high‑level government posts in Haiti. He served twice as Prime Minister of Haiti, most recently from June to November 2024. That period was marked by severe security problems and humanitarian needs, as the country struggled with widespread gang violence.
During his time in government, he built working relationships with international partners, including Kenya. In October 2024, while still Prime Minister, Conille visited Kenya on a four‑day official visit. He met President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi to discuss security cooperation, especially the Kenya‑led Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. Kenya had already deployed police officers to help restore order there.
Conille trained as a doctor. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the State University of Haiti and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States.
Outgoing Resident Coordinator Stephen Jackson met President Ruto on March 31, 2026 to mark the end of his term. Jackson, who is moving to a new posting in China, spoke about Kenya’s progress and the importance of continued partnership with the United Nations.
“Everything that has changed for the good in Kenya, the growth, the development, but also the things that have remained constant — the warmth, the enthusiasm, the hard work, and the optimism of the Kenyan people,” he said at his farewell meeting.
President Ruto thanked Jackson for his service. The appointment underlines the strong ties between Kenya and the United Nations and comes at a time when both continue to work closely on advancing sustainable development, health, education and humanitarian goals.