Ambassador Julius Kiema Kilonzo (born 13 April 1966), is a Kenyan politician and diplomat, who serves as Ambassador to Uganda, since September 2018. Before that, from August 2014 until September 2018, he served as Kenya's ambassador to Turkey. Before his current assignment, he served two terms in the Kenya parliament presenting present-day Kitui East Constituency (at that time "Mutito Constituency"), from 2002 until 2012.

Background and education

Kilonzo was born on 13 April 1966 in present-day

Kitui County Kitui County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui, although Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of 1,136,187 (2019 census). and an area of 30,430 km2. ...

, just outside the town of

Kitui Kitui is a town and capital of Kitui County in Kenya, 180 kilometres east of Nairobi and 105 kilometres east of Machakos. it covers an area approximately 30,496.4 km squares and lies between latitudes 0°10 South and 3°0 South and longitudes ...

. He belongs the Oini (Mbaa Ndune) clan. He studied at the University of Nairobi (UoN), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Later, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Armed Conflict and Peace Studies, also from UoN.

Early career

After his studies Kilonzo joined a company called ''Toplic and Handling Limited as an investigator-trainee. Over time, he was promoted to the position of investigations manager, responsible for investigations, tracing and fraud. Later, he was hired by Madison Insurance Company Limited in the same capacity. He then left to join Crystal Clear Loss Adjusters Limited, as the Assistant General Manager. Then he was promoted to the rank of managing director. Later, he worked as the chief executive officer of the Dynasty Group of Companies.

Political career

He was first elected on a Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People (Ford-People) ticket in 2002 before being re-elected on a

Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya Wiper may refer to: * Windscreen wiper * Wiper, a Pakistani English term for a squeegee * Wiper (occupation), a cleaner in the engine room of a ship * wiper (malware), a type of malware * Wiper, a term for a hybrid striped bass * Wiper, a t ...

(WDM-K) ticket in 2007. He was a gubernatorial candidate in

2013 Kitui local elections Kitui Gubernatorial Elections were held in Kitui to elect a Governor and County Assembly on 4 March 2013. Under the new constitution, which was passed in a 2010 referendum, the 2013 general elections were the first in which Governors and members ...

but came second behind Julius Malombe. He was vying on a

National Rainbow Coalition The National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) is a political party in Kenya. As an alliance, it was in power from 2002 and 2005 when it collapsed due to disagreements between members over a constitutional referendum. Formation In preparation of the 2002 ...

(NARC) ticket.

Diplomatic career

In 2014, he was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the first Kenyan ambassador to Turkey following the opening of the Kenyan Embassy in Ankara in 2012. He presented his credentials to the then president of Turkey,

Recep Tayyip Erdoan Recep may refer to: People Surname * Aziz Recep (born 1992), German-Greek footballer * Sibel Recep (born 1987), Swedish pop singer Given name * Recep Adanır (born 1929), Turkish footballer * Recep Akdağ (born 1960), Turkish physician and pol ...

, in July 2015. In 2018, he was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Kenyan ambassador to Uganda. He presented his credentials to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in September 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilonzo, Kiema 1966 births Living people Kamba people University of Nairobi alumni Ambassadors of Kenya to Turkey High Commissioners of Kenya to Uganda Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) People from Kitui County