ROBERT GODEC formally appointed as US envoy to KENYA

The Kenyan DAILY POSTNews02:22

Wednesday, the 23^rd of January 2012 -Robert Godec has been formally appointed as the United States Ambassador to Kenya. Godec was sworn by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on the 16^th of January.

Prior to his appointment Godec was the Chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi. He also previously served at the US Embassy in Nairobi between 1996 and 1999 before a stint as US envoy to Tunisia.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, while confirming Godec’s appointment, said that appointing a US envoy to Kenya was necessary because the country is “one of the United States’ most strategic partners in Africa and is preparing to hold national elections on March 4th".

Nuland said that with the March 4^th elections Kenya has an opportunity to show the world how much it learnt from the events of the 2007/2008 post election violence;

“These are the first national elections under Kenya’s new Constitution, and they are an opportunity for Kenya to show the world it has moved decisively past the tragic violence following the disputed 2007 elections.”

"Underscoring our commitment to a strong relationship with the people and Government of Kenya and our commitment to support free, fair, and peaceful elections, Secretary Clinton wanted to get Ambassador Godec on his way as quickly as she could."

The Kenyan DAILY POST