Out goes Robert Godec, in comes Kyle McCarter – the new United States ambassador to Kenya.
McCarter, 56, was among six envoys who on Tuesday met with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi before presenting their credentials. He said he was happy and ready to get down to work.
“Just presented credentials to his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. Officially in place and ready to work side by side. Tutafanya kazi pamoja,” he said.
The incoming US envoy said he will do everything within his power to help prevent Kenya from being used as a terrorist gateway by enhancing the two countries’ strategic alliance to eliminate terrorist threats.
“National security is extremely important to both our countries. As Ambassador, I will use my experience to help advance the many development programmes and policy initiatives in our long-standing US-Kenya partnership towards self-reliance,” McCarter said when he presented his credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Kenya is a top priority for this administration, as demonstrated by the elevation last year of the US-Kenya relationship to a strategic partnership following the historic meeting between President Trump and President Kenyatta in 2018, and by the many recent high-level visits to Kenya by senior US officials,” Ambassador McCarter added.
Other incoming envoys included: High Commissioner Gobopang Duke Lefhoko (Botswana), Maria Alejandra Guerra (Chile), Meles Alem Tekea (Ethiopia), Jong Tong Hak (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and Unnur Orradottir Ramette (Iceland).
Korea and Iceland envoys are non-resident ambassadors accredited to Kenya.
President Kenyatta welcomed the new envoys and assured them of his support to make their tour of duty in Kenya a success.
“Welcome to Kenya and feel at home. I look forward to working with you to strengthen the cooperation and bilateral relations for the benefit of the people of our countries,” President Kenyatta told the envoys.
