The United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, has welcomed a new leader, with Susan Burns assuming the role of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.

Burns, a seasoned diplomat, takes over from Carla Benini, who concluded her tenure after a short but impactful period.

In a video on Monday, August 25, 2025, Burns said she was excited to be in Kenya after she received the reins from Benini.

Excited to be in Kenya

“I am so excited to be here in Kenya. Rada wasee? Burns stated.

Susan Burns brings a wealth of experience to her new posting in Kenya. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she has a long history of serving in key diplomatic roles across different continents.

Before her appointment to Nairobi, she most recently served as the Principal Officer in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 2022 to 2025.

Her career has also taken her to various other important locations. She has worked as the Director for the Office of Mainland Southeast Asia in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and as a Public Affairs Officer in both Kampala, Uganda, and Kathmandu, Nepal.

Earlier diplomatic postings

Her earlier assignments include posts in Poland, Ghana, and Taiwan, as well as working within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in Washington, D.C. This diverse background has equipped her with a deep understanding of international relations, public diplomacy, and strategic foreign policy.

The new Chargé d’Affaires follows in the footsteps of Carla Benini, who held the position from July to August 2025. Benini also had a distinguished diplomatic career, which included a background in journalism.

She had been serving as the Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Kenya since 2023, giving her a strong grasp of the local context before she stepped into the top role.

Her diplomatic service includes roles as Deputy Political/Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Uganda and Public Affairs Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Belgium.

She also served in other countries such as India, Brazil, Italy, and Afghanistan. Within the State Department in Washington, D.C., she held positions as Deputy Director for the Africa bureau’s Office of East African Affairs and as a Senior Advisor on global messaging related to the People’s Republic of China.

As Susan Burns takes the helm, she will continue the important work of fostering strong relations and cooperation between the United States and Kenya across various sectors.