The United States (US) Embassy in Nairobi has announced a new Chargé d’Affaires to lead its operations and serve as the top United States representative in Kenya.
The Embassy has chosen Carla Benini as the new ambassador, making her the top-ranking US diplomat in Kenya.
She is also now the lead official at the largest United States embassy in sub-Saharan Africa.
Benini is a Senior Foreign Service officer who assumed her new role on July 21, 2024, according to the embassy.
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Carla Benini’s Previous Role at the Embassy
Before her appointment, she was serving as the Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Nairobi, a position she began in 2023.
However, before her assignment in Kenya, Benini held several high-level diplomatic roles in Washington, D.C., including serving as Deputy Director for the Office of East African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs.
Additionally, she worked in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs as Senior Advisor on global messaging efforts related to the People’s Republic of China.
Her career includes work across multiple continents and key diplomatic missions. She served as Public Affairs Counselor at the US Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium and as Deputy Political/Economic Counselor at the United States Embassy in Uganda.
Her other assignments include postings in India, Brazil, and Italy, as well as a previous role in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
Also Read: Ambassador Meg Whitman Resigns
Previous Jobs and Education of the Trump Appointee
Before joining the US State Department, Benini worked as a journalist, bringing strong communications and media expertise to her diplomatic work.
She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and is fluent in French, Portuguese, and Italian.
The new Chargé d’Affaires takes over from former United States Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, who announced her resignation on Wednesday, November 13, after formally submitting it to former President Joe Biden.
During her tenure, Whitman oversaw key United States initiatives in Kenya, including emergency response efforts during the 2023 floods, and support for ongoing public health programs targeting malaria, HIV, and MPOX.
In her absence, Deputy Chief of Mission Marc Dillard briefly served as acting head of mission until the appointment of the new embassy chief.
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