The United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, has announced a new Chargé d’Affaires to lead its operations and serve as the top U.S. representative in the East African nation.
In a statement on August 25, 2025, the Embassy said that Susan M. Burns is the new ambassador, making her the top-ranking U.S. diplomat in Kenya.
Burns will now lead operations at what is the largest U.S. embassy in sub-Saharan Africa. She succeeds Carla Benini, a Foreign Service officer who had been serving in the role following the departure of Deputy Chief of Mission Marc Dillard. Benini welcomed Burns in a video message featuring both the Kenyan and U.S. flags.
“I am excited to welcome our new Chargé d’Affaires, Susan Burns, here to Kenya. Karibu Susan! said Benini.
Burns replied, “Ahsante (thank you), Carla. I am so happy to be here in Kenya. Rada wasee!”
“I am so happy to be here to continue working to strengthen our relationship with Kenya. Many thanks to Carla and the entire Embassy team for their ongoing efforts. Can’t wait to meet you, Kenya!”
Also Read: How Kenyans Could Be Affected as Trump Approves Student and Foreign Workers Visa Changes
Profile of the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Susan M. Burns
According to the U.S Embassy, Burns previously served as the Principal Officer in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 2022 to 2025.
Other assignments include Director for the Office of Mainland Southeast Asia in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Public Affairs Officer in Kampala, Uganda and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Her other postings include Poland, the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Ghana, and Taiwan.
Burns is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister Counselor, and was awarded the State Department’s Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy in 2017.
The new U.S. Embassy in Nairobi Chargé d’Affaires has a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University. She has studied Mandarin, Polish, Nepali, Vietnamese, and French. Burns is married and has two children.
Also Read: Trump Appoints New Ambassador to Kenya; Who is She?
A U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires is a diplomat who assumes the duties of the Ambassador when the Ambassador is absent, serving as the chief of mission.
Their functions are similar to an ambassador, which include leading and coordinating the embassy’s executive branch offices, advancing U.S. foreign policy and national interests, ensuring the security of the mission and its personnel, and serving as the public face of the U.S. in the host country.
Burns replaces Benini, who had served as Chargé d’Affaires for the past month. Benini took over from Deputy Chief of Mission Dillard, who briefly led the mission following the resignation of former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman on November 13, 2024, after formally submitting her resignation to then-President Joe Biden.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
