Susan M. Burns has officially assumed her role as the new Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Nairobi, the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in sub-Saharan Africa.
A seasoned diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Burns takes over from Carla Benini, who had served in the position since 2023.
“I am so happy to be here in Kenya, ‘rada wasee’,” Burns said in a video posted on the embassy’s social media platforms, using a colloquial Swahili greeting.
Burns brings extensive diplomatic experience, having most recently served as Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 2022 to 2025.
Her career includes key roles such as Director for the Office of Mainland Southeast Asia in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Public Affairs Officer in Kampala, Uganda, and Kathmandu, Nepal.
She has also served in Poland, Ghana, Taiwan, and several Washington-based bureaus.
In 2017, Burns received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy. She holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University. She speaks Mandarin, Polish, Nepali, Vietnamese, and French.
Burns succeeds Carla Benini, who had served as Chargé d’Affaires for the past two years. Benini first came to Kenya as Counsellor for Public Affairs and previously worked in Washington, D.C., as Deputy Director for the Office of East African Affairs and as a Senior Advisor on strategic messaging regarding China.
Her earlier diplomatic postings included Uganda, Belgium, India, Brazil, Italy, and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
As Chargé d’Affaires, Burns will lead the embassy’s efforts to strengthen U.S.-Kenya relations in trade, security cooperation, education, and health, while overseeing diplomatic staff and representing U.S. interests in the region until a new ambassador is appointed.
