List of ambassadors of the United States to Kenya

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
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holderLaurence C. Vass
as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
FormationFebruary 20, 1964
WebsiteU.S. Embassy - Nairobi

Ambassadors
  • 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[2]
    • 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[2]
    • 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[3]
    • 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[4]
    • 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
  1. Attwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.
  2. From 1976 to 1982 the ambassador to Kenya was also accredited to the Seychelles while resident at Nairobi. See U.S. Ambassador to Seychelles.
  3. 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.
  4. "Godec, Robert F." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2021-02-06.

See also

References
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