Neil Wigan OBE to replace Jane Marriott as British High Commissioner to Kenya
United Kingdom has announced changes in its representative to Kenya, appointing Mr Desmond Patrick Neil Wigan OBE as its British High Commissioner in Kenya.
Mr Neil will take over from Ms Jane Marriott whose term will end in June.
“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,” the UK said in its statement posted on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Neil is married and is the father of two children
Until his new appointment, Mr Neil has been serving as His Majesty’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Israel, a position that he has been holding since 2019.
Before, Mr Neil was the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FDO) Director in Africa from 2015 to 2018.
Also, he served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Mogadishu from 2013 to 2015.
While welcoming the changes, the outgoing Commissioner Ms Marriott said that she will miss Kenya after serving for four years.
“After four amazing years, my time in Kenya is up in June – I will miss Kenya and Kenyans enormously,” Ms Marriott said.
Ms Marriott also said that she will be assuming another role in July.
She previously served as Director of International Counter Terrorism and Ambassador to Yemen.
Ms Marriott has been involved in several programs in the country since she took over, including fighting FGM and taking part in the program to mitigate drought in some parts of the country.
Also read: Sakaja orders removal of barriers at former Hilton Hotel
Former NTV journalist Agnes Nandutu sent to jail in mabati scandal