For nearly 30 years, Ambassador Betty Cherwon has worked where power, policy and global events intersect. From witnessing the Arab Spring in Egypt to co-ordinating presidential inaugurations, climate summits and state visits in Kenya, her career has unfolded at the nerve-centre of diplomacy.

Today, as Kenya’s ambassador to France, she occupies one of the country's most strategic diplomatic postings. Based in Paris, she represents Kenya not only in France, but also in Portugal, Monaco and Serbia, and, until recently, at the Holy See.

Her current assignment places her at the forefront of major international engagements, including preparations for the recent France-Africa Summit and Kenya’s historic participation as a partner country at the G7 Summit this coming week.

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Reflecting on what diplomacy has taught her, Cherwon offers a lesson she believes every diplomat must learn: “Be comfortable around power.”

It is a principle forged through years of ensuring that meetings involving presidents, prime ministers, royalty and global leaders proceed without incident.

“Whatever decisions you make, when you are pleasing one person, you will be disappointing another. It’s a tricky balancing act.”

Cherwon’s interest in international affairs began with a fascination for travel and different cultures. When she joined government service in 1996, Kenya did not offer university courses in International Relations or Diplomatic Studies.

Recruitment into the public service was done through a common government cadre, after which successful candidates were assigned to different ministries.

“This is something I had actually wanted for a long time—not foreign service per se, but working internationally.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was then much smaller than it is today, with roughly 30 missions abroad and about 700 staff members. As a young officer, Cherwon threw herself into every training opportunity available.

“I took French classes and so many other courses at what is now the Kenya School of Government.”

Ambassador Betty Cherwon speaks with Monaco's HSH Prince Albert II in Monte Carlo on October 14, 2025.

Photo credit: Pool

A defining milestone came when she won a scholarship to study diplomacy in Chile. “The course was in Spanish, and I didn’t know the language!”

Undeterred, she spent much of 1996 learning the language and left for Chile in 1997. The experience not only earned her a postgraduate diploma in diplomacy, but also fluency in Spanish.

After returning to Nairobi, Cherwon continued serving at the ministry headquarters before receiving her first foreign posting in 2000 to Kenya’s High Commission in London.

“London was a big highlight in my career because that’s where I honed a lot of skills in diplomacy.

At the Court of St James, she learned the traditions, procedures and nuances of diplomatic engagement while working under experienced mentors, including Rebecca Nabutola, who later became Principal Secretary and Head of Protocol.

After four years in London, Cherwon returned to Nairobi and broadened her expertise across several directorates, including Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and multilateral affairs. The experience gave her exposure to both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, preparing her for increasingly complex assignments.

One of the most dramatic periods of her career came in 2007 when she was posted to Cairo. During her assignment, Egypt became one of the focal points of the Arab Spring, the wave of anti-government protests that transformed politics across the Arab world from 2010. Cherwon watched events unfold from a diplomat’s perspective while reporting developments back to Nairobi.

“I saw the revolution starting. I couldn’t believe it was happening because Egypt was almost a police state. We saw armoured trucks going into the streets and things were happening so fast.”

Career-defining experience

The Kenyan embassy quickly shifted into crisis mode. “We had to evacuate Kenyans. It was an interesting time.”

Returning to Nairobi in 2012, Cherwon joined the ministry’s multilateral directorate, where she handled issues involving the World Health Organisation and international human rights.

Among the initiatives she worked on were negotiations surrounding tobacco control policies.“We were among first countries with designated smoking zones,” she says.

Another career-defining experience came when she enrolled at the National Defence College (NDC) in 2013.

“This was the best institution to study in. You come out of the NDC and you can run a country, literally.”

The programme combined defence and security studies with advanced training in international affairs, broadening her understanding of how diplomacy supports national security and development.

After graduating, Cherwon was posted to Berlin, where her understanding of European diplomacy and governance grew. When she returned to Kenya in 2018, she entered what would become one of the most influential chapters of her career: the Protocol Directorate.

She rose from Protocol Officer to Deputy Chief of Protocol and eventually Chief of Protocol, serving under Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. Her responsibilities included coordinating state visits, managing diplomatic ceremonies and overseeing high-level engagements.

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Among the highlights of her career was the Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in September 2023, which showcased Kenya’s growing ability to host major international events and elevated the country’s diplomatic profile.

“We delivered, with many Heads of State well-choreographed. But there was a lot of work in the background.”

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a different challenge altogether. While much of the world shut down, protocol operations continued. Her team worked around the clock processing flight clearances, coordinating evacuations and facilitating diplomatic travel.

“There were a lot of evacuation flights from countries that did not have good hospitals and we had to burn the midnight oil to make sure all flights were cleared.”

Cherwon arrived in Paris in late 2023 and officially assumed her current posting in early 2024.

“I truly believe that France is the seat of diplomacy,” she says. “Practically every country has an embassy here.”

Among her early highlights was supporting Team Kenya during the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I got to be at all events and cheer our team.”

Another major milestone was presenting her credentials to Pope Francis.

Personal sacrifices

“That’s a real highlight because the Pope is not just the Holy Father, he is the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics all over the world.”

One of Cherwon’s most important assignments in Paris has been helping advance Kenya’s role in the recent France-Africa Summit.

Perhaps the most significant assignment of her current posting is Kenya’s participation in the G7 Summit [on June 15 to 17] as a partner country.

Alongside India, Brazil, South Korea and Syria, Kenya was invited by France to participate in discussions involving the world’s leading economies.

“This is significant for Kenya,” Cherwon says, “it means we now sit at the table with the seven strongest economies in the world and negotiate on behalf of the African continent on global issues.”

Despite her professional achievements, Cherwon acknowledges that diplomacy has come with personal sacrifices.

“When I did my course in South America, one retired diplomat told us, ‘Please remember that you are either a diplomat or somebody’s wife – you cannot be both.’ It sounded like a very crazy story to me until I experienced it. I got my children when I was in London and it was so difficult because there wasn’t so much support.”

“In Europe, you don’t have nannies, so children learn to cook and clean for themselves early. They are now in university abroad and they learnt to be independent early.”

Cherwon’s favourite way to unwind is surprisingly simple: walking. Whether strolling through Parisian parks or along the banks of the Seine, she uses walking as a way to clear her mind and remain grounded.

elias.makori@ymail.com

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