Lancaster native appointed interim U.S. ambassador to Kenya as countries negotiate trade deal
Lancaster County native Eric Kneedler was appointed as the interim ambassador to Kenya at its embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced.
Kneedler, a 1991 Lancaster County Day School alumnus, has served as a diplomat on behalf of the United States since 1998. He began his assignment in Nairobi in 2017 and most recently served as the embassy’s deputy chief of mission. He also completed tours in Manila, Philippines; Bangkok; Jakarta, Indonesia; Port Louis, Mauritius; Hong Kong; and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of European Affairs.
Kneedler is replacing former President Donald Trump appointee Kyle McCarter. Although ambassadors are often granted a grace period before being dismissed by a new presidential administration, McCarter announced his resignation as of Wednesday. McCarter served as the ambassador from 2019 to 2021 after a career as an Illinois state senator.
Kneedler wrote on Twitter he hopes to continue to “build on (U.S. and Kenya’s) over 55 years of friendship on security, health, education, trade and so much more!”
Kenyan officials have spent recent days negotiating a free-trade agreement with the U.S. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated Tuesday his determination to finalize the agreement with the Biden administration, according to Kenyan newspaper The Standard.
Source:https://lancasteronline.com/news/po...cle_21ed3112-5caa-11eb-9108-1f2fea3e15f3.html
Lancaster County native Eric Kneedler was appointed as the interim ambassador to Kenya at its embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced.
Kneedler, a 1991 Lancaster County Day School alumnus, has served as a diplomat on behalf of the United States since 1998. He began his assignment in Nairobi in 2017 and most recently served as the embassy’s deputy chief of mission. He also completed tours in Manila, Philippines; Bangkok; Jakarta, Indonesia; Port Louis, Mauritius; Hong Kong; and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of European Affairs.
Kneedler is replacing former President Donald Trump appointee Kyle McCarter. Although ambassadors are often granted a grace period before being dismissed by a new presidential administration, McCarter announced his resignation as of Wednesday. McCarter served as the ambassador from 2019 to 2021 after a career as an Illinois state senator.
Kneedler wrote on Twitter he hopes to continue to “build on (U.S. and Kenya’s) over 55 years of friendship on security, health, education, trade and so much more!”
Kenyan officials have spent recent days negotiating a free-trade agreement with the U.S. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated Tuesday his determination to finalize the agreement with the Biden administration, according to Kenyan newspaper The Standard.
Source:https://lancasteronline.com/news/po...cle_21ed3112-5caa-11eb-9108-1f2fea3e15f3.html