Faith Nyasuguta
On April 6, Veronica Moraa was appointed as a sheriff of Nottinghamshire, in the UK making her the first Kenyan and the first black woman to hold the role.
Making the announcement, the UK Royal Airforce stated that Moraa had been appointed to the position by the King and was officially installed.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Royal Air Force and included music from different choirs and bands including a live streaming of Gatoto School children’s choir in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Air Commodore Veronica Moraa Picking was appointed as the new High Sheriff by the King and will serve in the appointment for one year,” the announcement read in part.
Moraa in her speech stated that she was committed to serving the community noting that she would focus on matters affecting the youth.
“I am absolutely delighted and privileged to be taking up this historic role and also to be the first woman of colour in Nottinghamshire to be High Sheriff.”
“In my year in office I will be focusing on highlighting the achievements of young people and the communities and organisations that support them,” she stated.
In 2021, Moraa made history as the first black woman and Kenyan to be appointed Royal Air Force (RAF) Honorary Air Commodore.
The air commodore is a one-star rank and is an air officer rank distinguished to a few since the air force’s inception towards the end of World War 1 in 1918.
She was also awarded the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear in July 2022 an award that was conferred to her by former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Moraa was born in Kenya and moved to England with her parents in the late ’60s and had accumulated over 25 years’ worth of experience as a social worker, and children’s guardian.
She has served as an International Child Protection Consultant for the United Nations(UN) and many NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) across Africa.
