Uhuru hosts top US diplomat at Ichaweri home
By Sharon Atieno, July 6, 2026Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has hosted United States Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu, Kiambu County, in the latest high-level diplomatic engagement involving the retired Head of State.
In a brief statement shared through his official social media platforms on Monday, July 6, 2026, Uhuru’s office said Burns paid him a courtesy call at his rural residence, although details of the discussions were not disclosed.
The meeting comes at a time when Kenyatta continues to play an active role in regional diplomacy and international engagement, particularly through his peace mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Diplomatic engagement at Ichaweri
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta today hosted U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, who paid him a courtesy call at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu,” his office said in the statement.
The visit signals continued engagement between the former president and key international partners even after leaving office, with diplomats frequently consulting him on regional and continental matters.
Uhuru has remained influential in peace and governance discussions across Africa, serving as the East African Community (EAC) Facilitator for the Nairobi Peace Process on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Regional peace role remains active
The courtesy call comes barely weeks after Kenyatta received a report outlining proposed engagement strategies for armed groups operating in eastern DRC following a high-level Process Design Meeting held at the same Ichaweri residence.
The report, prepared by regional peace experts, focused on actor mapping and possible entry points for dialogue with armed groups in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu as part of ongoing efforts to restore stability in the conflict-hit region.
At the time, Kenyatta thanked the participants for what he described as fruitful deliberations and underscored the importance of collective expertise in advancing regional peace initiatives.
US-Africa ties under focus
The meeting also comes as global attention increasingly shifts to Africa’s strategic position in emerging technologies and geopolitical competition.
A recent United Nations report warned that Africa risks becoming an artificial intelligence consumer rather than a creator unless governments invest in local computing infrastructure, talent development and AI governance, noting that the United States and China currently dominate global AI development.
The report urged stronger partnerships to help African countries build technological capacity and reduce dependence on foreign systems, issues that continue to shape international engagement with the continent.