Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued an appeal to US President Donald Trump, urging him to consider Kenya’s current political situation when appointing the next United States ambassador to Nairobi.
In an interview on Wednesday, August 6, Gachagua called for a principled individual to take up the post, invoking the legacy of former US envoy Smith Hempstone.
"We are hoping and we are appealing to the American government, specifically President Donald Trump, that as he chooses an ambassador for Kenya to consider giving us an ambassador of the same caliber and thinking as Smith Hempstone who came in to help the people of Kenya when they faced the same circumstances," he said.
Hempstone served as US ambassador to Kenya from 1989 to 1993 having been appointed by President George Bush.
He assumed the role at a time when Kenya was under the one-party rule of President Daniel arap Moi and made it his mission to push for democratic reforms in the country.
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Hempstone condemned human rights abuses, spoke out against corruption, and made clear that the US would condition financial aid on Kenya’s willingness to embrace multiparty democracy.
At his first Fourth of July embassy event in Nairobi, Hempstone made headlines by reading out the US Declaration of Independence and voicing strong support for political reforms and legitimate governance.
He also offered refuge to persecuted opposition figures, including prominent human rights lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria, sometimes helping them relocate when their safety was at risk.
Gachagua's appeal comes three weeks after US Chargé d’Affaires Marc Dillard sent a heartfelt farewell message to Kenyans as his diplomatic tenure draws to a close.
In a video shared on Friday, July 18, Dillard reflected on his arrival in Nairobi, his emotional connection to Kenya, revealing how quickly the nation came to feel like home.
"When I first arrived in Kenya, I knew I was stepping into a nation full of promise and deep heritage. But what I didn't expect was how quickly it would feel like home.
Dillard noted his time in Kenya was more than a professional posting, describing it as a deeply personal experience of learning and connection.
"To serve here has been more than a diplomatic assignment. It's been a journey of friendship, of learning, and of connection. To all of the Kenyan friends that I've made, all the people that I've met, thank you very much," he further said.
