Did you know that the new acting United States ambassador to Kenya was a journalist? Just like details of her former profession, Carla Benini’s entry as the new top US diplomat to Kenya was largely discreet, with no official communication from the US government on her appointment.
The new Chargé d'Affaires took over from Marc Dillard, who finished his tour of duty in June 2025.
In becoming the new US envoy to Kenya, Benini now heads the largest embassy in sub-Saharan Africa, only two years after she first came to the country.
However, before accumulating extensive years of experience as a diplomat, Benini served as a Senior Editor at Northstar Travel Media from 1993 to 2003, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The mother of three boys landed the job just after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Penn State University in 1993.
A quick search on the internet reveals that Northstar Travel Media, now known as Northstar Travel Group, is a global business-to-business (B2B) information, events, and marketing solutions company serving the entire travel industry.
The firm provides information, news, data, analysis, research, and event experiences for professionals across all segments of the travel industry.
While little is known about Benini’s time at the company, it was from here that she transitioned into diplomacy, landing a role at the US Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome in 2004. She served as a Public Affairs Officer for two years, exiting in 2006.
Afterwards, she worked as a Vice Consul at the US Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for two years (2007–2009). She followed this with a stint as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Department of State in Afghanistan.
Benini then moved to India, serving as a Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Hyderabad from 2011 to 2013. It was from this role that she began her first sojourn in Africa, taking up the position of Deputy Political/Economic Chief at the US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.
After three years in Uganda, Benini secured a position as the Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. She held this role for three years, exiting in 2020.
In a significant shift, Benini then joined the US Department of State in Washington, DC, initially serving as a Senior Advisor from September 2020 to July 2021, before being promoted to Deputy Director of East African Affairs.
In August 2023, Benini began her assignment in Kenya, becoming the Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Nairobi, a role she held for over a year. The now seasoned diplomat then assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Mission (Acting) in November 2024.
Benini, who is also a member of the Senior Foreign Service, held this role till her ascension to the Chargé d'Affaires position in July 2025.
Aside from performing the duties her high-profile role requires, Benini has previously expressed her love for travelling and spending time with family. She is also multilingual, fluent in English, French, Portuguese, and Italian.
