The resignation of Meg Whitman as US Ambassador to Kenya Wednesday drew mixed reactions from Kenyans as she marked the end of her two-year tenure since taking over from Kyle McCarter in January 2022.
While announcing the resignation, Whitman said it was an honur and privilege to serve her country and strengthen US-Kenya bilateral ties.
“I am proud of leading a people-centred agenda that saves lives, increases security, and creates economic opportunities for Kenyans and Americans. I have no doubt that our 60 years of partnership will continue to strengthen and serve Americans and Kenyans as we aim to build more prosperous, healthy, secure, and democratic nations,” she said.
Chargé d'Affaires, Marc Dillard, will be in charge of the embassy until substantive ambassador is appointed by the Donald Trump administration.
Whitman’s exit was sudden but somewhat not unexpected.
What with the historic return of Trump as the next US President and a growing backlash from a section of Kenyans online, some of who ran a hashtag calling on Trump to recall her.
Nonetheless, some, like Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei held a divergent opinion, describing Whitman as the best ambassador Kenya has ever had.
“She will be remembered as the best Ambassador in the country for promoting Kenya's interests in trade and security including the success of the Haiti Mission and state visit of H.E Ruto where the country shall benefit greatly,” Cherargei said on his X feed.
“We wish well H.E. Whitman in her next tour of duty.”
Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi echoed his sentiments, describing Meg as an “amazing and impactful Ambassador”.
“She has been a good and loving friend of Kenya and her people and will be greatly missed,” he said on X.
Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, also lauded the envoy saying she redefined US diplomacy.
“You go straight into the text taught in diplomatic classes and without a doubt into many memoirs and history of Kenya,” he said, also, on X.
In an apparent self-appraisal, the outgoing envoy highlighted a number of gains she credited herself for, including delivering emergency funding to alleviate the catastrophic flooding in 2023, the fight against malaria, HIV and Mpox.
She also cited the elevation of Kenya as America’s first major non-Nato ally in Sub-Saharan Africa, the signing of trade and job treaties and the enhancement of consular service that saw the issuance of non-immigrant visa appointment wait time cut from more than two years to about two months.
“My efforts also opened the door for more American companies to do business in Kenya,” she said.
Trump will assume office on January 20, 2025, for a second and final term as US president.
He whitewashed Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, at the November 5 polls, beating her in both the popular and Electoral College votes.
Trump has already started constructing his administration and has thus far made several top nominations ahead of the inauguration.
Meg said she believes the Kenyan team and the new US team will continue the good work from where she left.
“Like all U.S. ambassadors, I serve at the request of the President. The American people have spoken, and a new president will be inaugurated in January. I wish him and his new team success,” she said.
