Meg Whitman sells Kenya to US, but at what price?

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Since her posting in August 2022, US Ambassador Meg Whitman has steadily unpacked a suitcase full of superlatives to endorse Kenya as a premier global investment destination and a shining example of democratic vitality in Africa. She has described Kenya as "the most stable democracy in Africa," and much to the chagrin of opposition leader Raila Odinga, summed up the 2022 General Election as the "freest, fairest and most credible election in Kenyan history." In short order, she has become one of the country's most vocal cheerleaders.

Her business-first style sets her apart from the previous 17 US Ambassadors who, to put it mildly, were far less glowing in their description of Kenya's democratic credentials. KTN NEWS's Mwangi Maina, who covers the diplomacy beat and is a keen observer of Kenya's foreign affairs, says President Joe Biden's choice of Whitman for the Nairobi post was a masterstroke.