New Kenyan ambassador to US presents credentials to President Trump

BY BMJ MURIITHI

US President Donald Trump on Friday received Letters of Credence from the newly posted Kenyan ambassador to Washington, Lazarus Ombai Amayo.

Amayo, who until his posting was serving as Kenya’s Permanent Representative in the United Nations in New York, was among 8 envoys  who participated in the credentialing ceremony at the White House.

Effectively, Amayo becomes the  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kenya to the United States.

The long serving diplomat conveyed greetings and best wishes from President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya to President Trump and through him to the people of the United States of America.

He noted that Kenya and US have warm and cordial multifaceted relations. In this he expressed Kenya’s appreciation for the recent commitment of $6.6 million by the U.S Government through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to boost prevention, preparedness, and response to COVID-19.

He reiterated the country’s commitment to collaborate with the United States and other international partners in seeking a long term remedy to the pandemic.

Ambassador  Amayo was appointed the new Kenyan envoy to the United States by President Kenyatta in May 2019 but did not report for duty due to what the Foreign Affairs Ministry referred to as “procedural issues.”

Kenya Satellite News Network has reliably learnt that Kenya was trying to push for Amayo to serve as a duo-envoy for both the US and the UN, but the Trump administration did not entertain the idea.

“Smaller countries can have one envoy for both the United Nations and the United States but we, in a manner of speaking, do not consider Kenya a small nation, ” said an official at State Department in Washington who did not wish to be named.

In May 2020, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau had said that Amayo would simultaneously hold the UN portfolio and would have two assistants – both full fledged ambassadors – at both stations.

“This is nothing new. We have envoys accredited to two stations each in several parts of the world,” he said in a phone interview.

He would later tweet the following:

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate our current ambassador and permanent representative of Kenya to the United Nations, Lazarus Amayo, for his appointment by the President to also be Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Amayo will hold both portfolios.

— Amb. Macharia Kamau (@AmbMKamau) May 5, 2019

On Friday, Ambassador Tom Omolo, who was tasked with leading the campaign to have Kenya elected to the UN Security Council tweeted:

Ambassador Lazarus Ombai AMAYO, truly an excellent Envoy, a diplomat’s diplomat, and a real humane officer and gentleman . Enjoy DC, my former station. I know you have left @KenyaMissionUN in capable hands.@ForeignOfficeKE @AmbMKamau @EnvoyUnsc https://t.co/ArOcxxoDrx

— Ambassador Tom Amolo (@amolosango) July 17, 2020

Amayo lands in  Washington at a time when Kenya and the US have began one of the most critical and comprehensive trade negotiations after the bilateral relations between the two countries were raised to “strategic partnership” status.

During the Friday ceremony, he observed that under the Kenya-US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue Framework, which was established by the two presidents in August 2018, there is an opportunity to leverage on the milestones made in diverse areas ranging from trade and investment, universal health, military and security cooperation, regional and multilateral issues.

In his remarks after receiving the Ambassador’s credentials, President Trump noted that his arrival in Washington signified the many years of friendship between Kenya and the United States and the commitment to advancing the existing strategic partnership between the two countries across the diverse areas of cooperation.

The President said he looks forward to strengthening the bilateral economic relations between the two countries with the negotiation of a comprehensive, high-standard Free Trade Agreement.

He reiterated United States commitment to supporting Kenya’s efforts to bolster regional security and particularly in the degrading of Al-Shabaab as well as expanding maritime security cooperation. He said the collaboration between the two countries on regional and global challenges will take a boost as Kenya assumes its non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022.

Amayo also emphasized Kenya’s readiness to continue partnering with the U.S. and other global players in countering terrorism and violent extremism and also addressing regional peace and security challenges particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions.

The Ambassador said Kenya is keen to strengthen the bilateral economic relations and integral to these efforts will be how to diversify Kenya’s exports and optimally access US investible resources.

He affirmed that following the launch of Kenya-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations, Kenya is looking forward to a mutually beneficial outcome. On commercial investments, he cited the establishment of the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as an opportunity for US businesses to invest in countries like Kenya.

Ambassador Amayo presented credentials alongside other Ambassadors from Zambia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Guatemala, Moldova and Benin.

SEPARATE EVENT

Speaking at a separate event at the Chancery, the Ambassador encouraged the private sectors of both countries to have closer collaboration as well as people to people interaction.

He noted that United States pre-COVID-19 was the leading source market of tourists to Kenya and looked forward to resumption of visits as the situation improves.  He said that the country, besides its rich culture and landscapes provides a gateway to the numerous business opportunities offered by the East Africa region and the continent.

To the Kenyan Diaspora in the US, the Ambassador assured them of the Embassy’s commitment to continue engaging and partnering with them as they play a critical role in Kenya’s national development.

Ambassador Amayo thanked his predecessor Ambassador Robinson Njeru Githae and the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador David Gacheru for the fruitful engagement with the Diaspora on matters of investments back in Kenya.

Two years ago, President  Trump and President Kenyatta elevated the U.S.–Kenya bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, and established a Trade and Investment Working Group to explore ways to deepen the trade and investment ties between the two countries.

Earlier this year, the two presidents agreed to pursue closer economic ties through the negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) and the talks began in earnest on July 7th, 2020.

Trade representatives from the two countries seek to conclude a free trade agreement that will complement regional integration efforts within the East African Community (EAC), as well as the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area.

Amayo’s first diplomatic posting was as High Commissioner to India, serving between 1999 to 2004.

Prior to his latest appointment, Amayo served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 2018.

He was Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018, and also served as the Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Commonwealth in London.

Between 2010 and 2014, Amayo was the Director of the Division for Europe and the Commonwealth at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also served as High Commissioner to Zambia and Malawi in addition to being the country’s Permanent Representative to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) from 2006 to 2010.

He was appointed as the acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served for two years between 2004 and 2006.

He also doubled up as the acting Director of Administration and Head of International Organizations and Conferences in the same Ministry.

Before joining the diplomatic world in 1999, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Catering Levy Trustees, a State corporation, from 1993 to 1997.

He has also previously served as Human Resource Manager at the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.

From 1989 to 1992, Amayo served as Member of Parliament for Karachuonyo Constituency, having been elected on a KANU ticket. In the same period, he also served as Assistant Minister for Education.

The father of three holds a master’s of arts degree in political science from the University of Delhi and a bachelor’s of liberal arts from Spicer Memorial College in India.

The following ambassadors participated in the credentialing ceremony on Friday:

Her Excellency Nomaindiya Mfeketo, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa

His Excellency Lazarous Kapambwe, Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia

Her Excellency Karen Elizabeth Pierce, DCMG, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

His Excellency Eugen Caras, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova

His Excellency Alfonso Quinonez Lemus, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala

His Excellency Jean-Claude do Rego, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin

His Excellency Lazarus Ombai Amayo, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya

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