After Kenya’s independence on December 12, 1963, the United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The embassy in Nairobi was established December 12, 1963—Kenya’s independence day—with Laurence C. Vass as chargé d’affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador.
| Ambassador of the United States to Kenya | |
|---|---|
Seal of the United States Department of State
|
|
|
Incumbent
Eric Kneedler Chargé d’Affaires since January 20, 2021 |
|
| Nominator | The President of the United States |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Inaugural holder | Laurence C. Vass as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim |
| Formation | February 20, 1964 |
| Website | U.S. Embassy – Nairobi |
U.S. diplomatic terms
Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.Chargé d’affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning “for the time being”, “in the meantime”.
List of US Ambassadors to Kenya
- William Attwood – Political appointee[1]
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 20, 1964
- Presented credentials: March 2, 1964
- Terminated mission: left post, May 1, 1966
- Glenn W. Ferguson – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 16, 1966
- Presented credentials: November 4, 1966
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 7, 1969
- Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 15, 1969
- Presented credentials: September 30, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 4, 1973
- Anthony D. Marshall – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 19, 1973
- Presented credentials: January 22, 1974
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 26, 1977
- Wilbert John LeMelle – Political appointee[2]
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 11, 1977
- Presented credentials: August 10, 1977
- Terminated mission: Left post, June 28, 1980
- William Caldwell Harrop – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 23, 1980
- Presented credentials: July 10, 1980
- Terminated mission: September 1, 1983
- Gerald Eustis Thomas – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 7, 1983
- Presented credentials: November 9, 1983
- Terminated mission: Left post, September 29, 1989
- Elinor Greer Constable – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 16, 1986
- Presented credentials: December 11, 1986
- Terminated mission: Left post, September 29, 1989
- Smith Hempstone, Jr. – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 6, 1989
- Presented credentials: December 7, 1989
- Terminated mission: Left post, February 26, 1993
- Aurelia E. Brazeal – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 9, 1993
- Presented credentials: September 21, 1993
- Terminated mission: Left post, September 11, 1996
- Prudence Bushnell – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 11, 1996
- Presented credentials: September 2, 1996
- Terminated mission: Left post May 22, 1999
- Johnnie Carson – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 7, 1999
- Presented credentials: September 23, 1999
- Terminated mission: July 6, 2003
- William M. Bellamy – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 16, 2003
- Presented credentials: September 9, 2003
- Terminated mission: Left post June 25, 2006
- Michael Ranneberger – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 5, 2006
- Presented credentials: August 23, 2006
- Terminated mission: May 4, 2011
- Scott Gration – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 18, 2011
- Presented credentials: May 18, 2011
- Terminated mission: July 23, 2012
- Robert F. Godec – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 16, 2013
- Presented credentials: February 15, 2013
- Terminated mission: February 1, 2019
- Kyle McCarter – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 2, 2019
- Presented credentials: March 12, 2019
- Terminated mission: January 20, 2021
Notes
- Attwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.
- Jump up to:a b c From 1976 to 1982 the ambassador to Kenya was also accredited to the Seychelles while resident at Nairobi. See U.S. Ambassador to Seychelles.
- The bombing of the Nairobi embassy on August 7, 1998 occurred during Bushnell’s term as ambassador to Kenya. She was injured in the attack but survived to direct rescue efforts.
- “Godec, Robert F.” U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
