United States President Donald Trump is set to have a greater say in affairs between Kenya and the US as he prepares to name a new US Ambassador to Kenya.
This comes as Chargé d’Affaires Marc Dillard, who is the acting US Ambassador to Kenya, nears his exit from office.
Dillard is reportedly completing his tour of duty in Kenya, seven months after ascending to the role. Dillard became the top US envoy to Kenya on an interim basis on November 13, 2024, after the departure of his predecessor, Meg Whitman.
News of Dillard’s departure was inadvertently revealed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who bid him farewell in a social media post.
Raila, in the accompanying message, wished Dillard all the best in his new assignments, further disclosing Dillard’s assurance that Kenya-US relations will “not only continue but will also expand in the future.”
“I bid farewell to Amb. Marc Dillard, the acting US Ambassador to Kenya, as his assignment here comes to an end. We have had productive discussions covering recent developments in Kenya, the United States, and indeed, around the world,” Raila stated.
A new ambassadorial appointment by Trump is set to have a significant impact on diplomatic relations between Kenya and the US.
First of all, such an appointment is a direct reflection of the presidential priorities. A direct appointment by President Trump signals his engagement and choice for the individual who will be the "face" of his administration's foreign policy in Kenya. This gives him direct control over who articulates and implements his specific vision and priorities on the ground.
Also, it might lead to the US potentially gaining “more power” in setting the tone. While US foreign policy is broad and involves many government agencies, the ambassador plays a critical role in setting the tone and direction of bilateral engagement at the operational level.
A Trump-appointed ambassador would be expected to align closely with Trump's "America First" foreign policy approach, which in the past has emphasised bilateralism over multilateralism, transactional relationships focused on reciprocal benefits, countering rivals, in this case China, and a potential reduction in foreign aid.
Further, the new envoy, with direct presidential backing, could potentially have more leverage in negotiations between the two nations. The Kenyan government would understand that the ambassador speaks directly for President Trump, which can expedite decision-making and commitment on key issues.
This would be particularly true if the appointee is a political ambassador (a non-career diplomat) who has a close personal relationship with Trump.
Moreover, the fresh appointee would be keen to exert his/her influence on specific policy areas. The ambassador would directly oversee implementation of US policy in Kenya across critical sectors such as security cooperation, trade and investment, democracy and governance.
When Trump first became the US President in 2018, he nominated Kyle McCarter as the US Ambassador to Kenya. McCarter was a political appointee and a former Republican member of the Illinois Senate.
He was confirmed on January 2, 2019, and assumed office on March 12, 2019. He served until January 20, 2021, just before President Biden took office.
