United States Ambassador to Kenya

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Michael E. Ranneberger, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya
Michael E. Ranneberger, U.S. 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.

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[edit] Ambassadors

Diplomatic Terms

Career FSO: After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSO) 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 to reward political friends.

Appointed: The date that the ambassador took the oath of office—also called “commissioning.” This 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 must be later confirmed by the Senate.

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. See chargé d’affaires.

ad interim: For the time being; in the meantime. See ad interim.

  • 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 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 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 E Ranneberger – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: June 28, 2006
    • Presented credentials: August 2006
    • Terminated mission: Incumbent

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Attwood was reaccredited when Kenya became a republic and presented new credentials January 28, 1965.
  2. ^ 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.
  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.

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