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
Flag of a United States ambassador
Incumbent Carla Benini Chargé d'affaires since July 21, 2025[1]
Nominator	The president of the United States
Appointer	The president with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder	Laurence C. Vass as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim
Formation	February 20, 1964
Website	U.S. Embassy - Nairobi

Ambassadors

Name	Title	Appointed	Presented credentials	Terminated mission	Notes
William Attwood – Political appointee[2]	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary	February 20, 1964	March 2, 1964	May 1, 1966
Glenn W. Ferguson – Political appointee		September 16, 1966	November 4, 1966	April 7, 1969
Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSO		September 15, 1969	September 30, 1969	April 4, 1973
Anthony D. Marshall – Political appointee[3]		December 19, 1973	January 22, 1974	April 26, 1977
Wilbert John LeMelle – Political appointee[3]		May 11, 1977	August 10, 1977	June 28, 1980
William Caldwell Harrop – Career FSO[3]		May 23, 1980	July 10, 1980	September 1, 1983
Gerald Eustis Thomas – Political appointee		October 7, 1983	November 9, 1983	September 29, 1986[4]
Elinor Greer Constable – Career FSO		October 16, 1986	December 11, 1986	September 29, 1989
Smith Hempstone, Jr. – Political appointee		November 6, 1989	December 7, 1989	February 26, 1993
Aurelia E. Brazeal – Career FSO		August 9, 1993	September 21, 1993	September 11, 1996
Prudence Bushnell – Career FSO[5]		June 11, 1996	September 2, 1996	May 22, 1999
Johnnie Carson – Career FSO		July 7, 1999	September 23, 1999	July 6, 2003
William M. Bellamy – Career FSO		April 16, 2003	September 9, 2003	June 25, 2006
Michael Ranneberger – Career FSO		July 5, 2006	August 23, 2006	May 4, 2011
Scott Gration – Political appointee		April 18, 2011	May 18, 2011	July 23, 2012
Robert F. Godec – Career FSO		January 16, 2013[6]	February 15, 2013	February 1, 2019
Kyle McCarter – Political appointee		January 2, 2019	March 12, 2019	January 20, 2021
Meg Whitman – Political appointee		December 8, 2021	August 5, 2022	November 13, 2024
Marc Dillard – Career FSO	Chargé d'affaires ad interim	November 13, 2024		July 21, 2025
Carla Benini – Career FSO		July 21, 2025		Present