United States Ambassador 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.

Ambassadors

*William Attwood – Political appointeeAttwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.]
**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 appointeeFrom 1976 to 1982 the ambassador to Kenya was also accredited to the Seychelles while resident at Nairobi. See U.S. Ambassador to Seychelles.]
**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
**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 Erskine 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 FSOThe 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.]
**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 E Ranneberger – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 28, 2006
**Presented credentials: August 2006
**Terminated mission: "Incumbent"

Notes

ee also

*History of Kenya
*Foreign relations of Kenya
*Ambassadors from the United States

ources

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/10897.htm United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Kenya]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm United States Department of State: Background notes on Kenya]
*StateDept

External links

* [http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/ U.S. Embassy in Nairobi]
* [http://foia.state.gov/MMS/KOH/key_country.asp?ID=Kenya U.S. Dep’t of State: Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Kenya]