The United States ambassador to Kenya is the most senior diplomatic representative of the United States federal government assigned 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 +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesWilliam Attwood – Political appointeeAttwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFebruary 20, 1964March 2, 1964May 1, 1966Glenn W. Ferguson – Political appointeeSeptember 16, 1966November 4, 1966April 7, 1969Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSOSeptember 15, 1969September 30, 1969April 4, 1973Anthony 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.December 19, 1973January 22, 1974April 26, 1977Wilbert John LeMelle – Political appointeeMay 11, 1977August 10, 1977June 28, 1980William Caldwell Harrop – Career FSOMay 23, 1980July 10, 1980September 1, 1983Gerald Eustis Thomas – Political appointeeOctober 7, 1983November 9, 1983September 29, 1986Elinor Greer Constable – Career FSOOctober 16, 1986December 11, 1986September 29, 1989Smith Hempstone, Jr. – Political appointeeNovember 6, 1989December 7, 1989February 26, 1993Aurelia E. Brazeal – Career FSOAugust 9, 1993September 21, 1993September 11, 1996Prudence 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.June 11, 1996September 2, 1996May 22, 1999Johnnie Carson – Career FSOJuly 7, 1999September 23, 1999July 6, 2003William M. Bellamy – Career FSOApril 16, 2003September 9, 2003June 25, 2006Michael Ranneberger – Career FSOJuly 5, 2006August 23, 2006May 4, 2011Scott Gration – Political appointeeApril 18, 2011May 18, 2011July 23, 2012Robert F. Godec – Career FSOJanuary 16, 2013February 15, 2013February 1, 2019Kyle McCarter – Political appointeeJanuary 2, 2019March 12, 2019January 20, 2021Meg Whitman – Political appointeeDecember 8, 2021 August 5, 2022November 13, 2024Marc Dillard – Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interimNovember 13, 2024July 21, 2025Carla Benini – Career FSOJuly 21, 2025August 25, 2025Susan M. Burns – Career FSOAugust 25, 2025Present
Notes
See also Kenya – United States relations Foreign relations of Kenya Ambassadors of the United States
References United States Department of State: Background notes on Kenya
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Kenya United States Department of State: Kenya United States Embassy in Kenya