UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, is slowly establishing herself as one of Kenyans' favourite diplomat.
Her soft-spoken personality and ease to mingle with both politicians and the common mwananchi compliments her charisma and other leadership traits.
The British High Commissioner to Kenya has lately been in the spotlight for her unique pose which can be seen in most if not all of her photos.
"A huge part of being High Commissioner is meeting people, and it’s one of her favourite parts of the job. This is just a way of keeping social distance but showing her enthusiasm for meeting Kenyans and for all things Kenya," a source close to her told Kenyans.co.ke.
Marriott, ever-smiling and always elegant in her dresses - some of which match her mask - loves to use the elbow to greet individuals she meets with on her daily duties.
As Health CS Mutahi Kagwe's hilarious quote states - "Sanitise, wash your hands and social distance. If you gerrit (get it) I can gerrit it too," - Marriott respects the measures set to curb the spread of Covid-19 and stays one meter away while posing for photos and throughout her engagements.
While posing with one individual, she can be spotted on the right end in many of the photos greeting the other person with her right elbow, her left hand always stretched out, the left knee slightly bending on her right leg.
Her height gives her the edge in the pose with her hair, always spread on her shoulders completing her look.
The same pose can be spotted when she greets her friends with her left elbow too. When posing in between with two, the envoy uses both her elbows to greet the said people.
On Friday, May 21, she celebrated International Tea Day with Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK Manoah Esipisu. The two promoted a number of Kenyan tea products in a virtual meeting.
"I don't know about you but for me, a cup of tea gets me through the day. Kenyans prefer their brew sweet and milky like am drinking right now while many Brits have their tea more "builder's style" - so string with milk and lots of sugar. I just had a chat with the Kenyan High Commissioner over a nice cup of tea sharing how our countries though separated by over 4,000 miles are connected through tea," she stated.
Marriott succeeded former High Commissioner Nic Hailey in September 2019. She is a seasoned foreign affairs expert having worked in Yemen, the US, Iran and Afghanistan.
She has also served in several UK Government departments, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence.
"This country holds a very special place in the heart of Her Majesty and in those of Her family and so many of Her subjects in the United Kingdom.
"I hope, as High Commissioner, to work with Your Excellency (President Uhuru Kenyatta) and your government to deliver a strengthened strategic partnership between our countries: a boost to our economic partnership following the UK’s departure from the European Union, our strengthened and mutually beneficial security and defence partnership," Marriott wrote in her letter to Uhuru while presenting her credentials in September 2019.
Watch Jane Marriott and Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK Manoah Esipisu drink Kenyan tea
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