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 | |
 | |
| 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 |
Ambassadors
edit| Name | Title | Appointed | Presented credentials | Terminated mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Attwood – Political appointee[1] | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | February 20, 1964 | March 2, 1964 | May 1, 1966 | |
| Glenn W. Ferguson – Political appointee | September 16, 1966 | November 4, 1966 | April 7, 1969 | ||
| Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSO | September 15, 1969 | September 30, 1969 | April 4, 1973 | ||
| Anthony D. Marshall – Political appointee[2] | December 19, 1973 | January 22, 1974 | April 26, 1977 | ||
| Wilbert John LeMelle – Political appointee[2] | May 11, 1977 | August 10, 1977 | June 28, 1980 | ||
| William Caldwell Harrop – Career FSO[2] | May 23, 1980 | July 10, 1980 | September 1, 1983 | ||
| Gerald Eustis Thomas – Political appointee | October 7, 1983 | November 9, 1983 | September 29, 1986[3] | ||
| Elinor Greer Constable – Career FSO | October 16, 1986 | December 11, 1986 | September 29, 1989 | ||
| Smith Hempstone, Jr. – Political appointee | November 6, 1989 | December 7, 1989 | February 26, 1993 | ||
| Aurelia E. Brazeal – Career FSO | August 9, 1993 | September 21, 1993 | September 11, 1996 | ||
| Prudence Bushnell – Career FSO[4] | June 11, 1996 | September 2, 1996 | May 22, 1999 | ||
| Johnnie Carson – Career FSO | July 7, 1999 | September 23, 1999 | July 6, 2003 | ||
| William M. Bellamy – Career FSO | April 16, 2003 | September 9, 2003 | June 25, 2006 | ||
| Michael Ranneberger – Career FSO | July 5, 2006 | August 23, 2006 | May 4, 2011 | ||
| Scott Gration – Political appointee | April 18, 2011 | May 18, 2011 | July 23, 2012 | ||
| Robert F. Godec – Career FSO | January 16, 2013[5] | February 15, 2013 | February 1, 2019 | ||
| Kyle McCarter – Political appointee | January 2, 2019 | March 12, 2019 | January 20, 2021 | ||
| Meg Whitman – Political appointee | December 8, 2021 | August 5, 2022 | Incumbent |
Notes
edit- ^ Attwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.
- ^ 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.
- ^ https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/thomas-gerald-eustis [bare URL]
- ^ 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.
