President Ruto on Tuesday, November 19, bid farewell to outgoing US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.
Ruto received Whitman and her delegation at State House, Nairobi. Pictures obtained by Kenyans.co.ke show Ruto in discussion with Whitman who is set to depart the country.
The meeting with the President is the first public engagement between the two since Meg Whitman announced her resignation as ambassador. Whitman's resignation was in the wake of Donald Trump's election as US President in the recently concluded US elections.
Whitman, in a statement posted online, announced her resignation on November 13. The resignation came barely a week after Kenyans asked US President-elect Donald Trump to recall Whitman.
Meg Whitman went ahead to term her role as the US ambassador as an "honour and privilege" and that under her service, the United States was able to strengthen its partnership with Kenya.
"From delivering emergency funding to alleviate catastrophic flooding in 2023 to the ongoing eradication of malaria, HIV, and MPOX, the US government prioritizes the health and welfare of our friends in Kenya," read part of Whitman's statement.
Whitman was appointed as ambassador by outgoing US President Joe Biden and had served as the head of the Kenyan embassy since August 2022. She had been under scrutiny for her increased presence in President Ruto's government with many Kenyans raising eyebrows on the extent of her jurisdiction in the country's national affairs.
President Ruto on his X account expressed his gratitude to Whitman noting her contribution in diplomatic relations between Kenya and the United States. He particularly highlighted her role in Kenya's elevation to a major non-NATO ally.
"In the past two years, diplomatic ties between Kenya and the US have been elevated to the status of major non-NATO ally, signifying a high point for the relations between our two countries and peoples," Ruto stated.
"Bid farewell to outgoing US Ambassador Meg Whitman, State House, Nairobi. She has worked hard for the Kenya-United States partnership. For that, we are immensely grateful," Ruto added.
Ruto also highlighted the long period of Kenya-US diplomatic relations and the impact of shared beliefs and values in related to democracy and rule of law.
"Kenya and the United States have enjoyed robust diplomatic relations for 60 years. These ties have been strengthened by our common and shared values of democracy, rule of law and freedom," the President noted.
