Kenya may have to wait longer for President Donald Trump to appoint an ambassador to the Nairobi mission, a delay partly linked to the recent US government shutdown and executive orders affecting bilateral relations.
US Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns confirmed the developments on Wednesday, noting that any ambassadorial appointment requires Senate approval before the nominee can officially take up the post in Kenya.
Speaking on NTV, Burns explained that the appointments were initially expected before the end of the year, but were delayed due to the US government shutdown in October this year, which also affected other bilateral engagements.
Currently, the US mission in Nairobi is headed by a Chargé d’Affaires, a French term meaning “in charge of affairs,” which in practice functions as an acting ambassador.
The Chargé d’Affaires is empowered to handle all diplomatic engagements with Kenya, including trade, security, health, and investment, among other matters, despite not officially having presented credentials to the Kenyan president.
Burns acknowledged Kenya’s cooperation with her and her team despite their acting status, emphasising that trade, health, security, and defense remain top priorities for bilateral relations. Additionally, she clarified that, unlike an official ambassador, she does not fly an American flag on official vehicles, a customary protocol in her nation's diplomatic culture.
“We currently have a Chargé d’Affaires, which means an acting ambassador. In our system, we need ambassadors confirmed by the Senate. We do not have one yet for Kenya,” Burns said.
She added, “We do not fly flags on our cars as that is a minor detail. However, as the person in charge, I can do anything literally, depending on local government arrangements.”
Trump Executive Pronouncements
Burns also reassured that despite President Trump’s concerns over US funding of security operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Kenya remains a critical partner in regional counterterrorism efforts, saying that the security coordination with Kenya is expected to continue.
USAID, AGOA Pact
In addition, Burns revealed that the US and Kenya are negotiating a new five-year health agreement to replace the previously frozen USAID support, indicating that the deal will be announced soon.
She noted that negotiations for a new African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade deal are ongoing, having slowed only due to the US government shutdown.
She clarified that the negotiations, however, slowed as the US Congress approval was required for the deal, which is intended to improve trade ties between the US and African nations.
Burns noted that, despite the absence of an active AGOA pact, Kenyan exports to the US currently benefit from some of the lowest tariff rates, with only 10 per cent tariffs applied to Kenyan goods.
