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With a net worth of over $5 billion, according to Forbes, Meg Whitman is one of the wealthiest women in the world. But despite her considerable wealth, Whitman has dedicated herself to public service in Kenya– and she seems to be having fun.
Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard, assumed the role of US Ambassador to Kenya in 2022, and since then, she has brought about several significant changes. Her collaborative approach has been instrumental in fostering US-Kenya relations, which had become strained during the tenure of her predecessor, Kyle McCarter, a Donald Trump administration appointee.
Just seven months on the job, Whitman is demonstrating why she’s one of the most accomplished and influential women in the world. She is touring the country and connecting with Kenyans from all walks of life.
One of the most notable changes that Whitman has brought about is addressing the visa backlog issue, which has been a significant source of frustration for many Kenyans. Under her leadership, the embassy has increased its visa processing capacity by 50 percent, significantly reducing wait times for visa applicants.
“The visa backlog situation has caused unnecessary hardship and is unacceptable. One of my top goals is to address this problem as quickly as possible. Strong people-to-people ties are the bedrock of our relationship,” Whitman said in a tweet.
Appearing in a video working the counter and serving Kenyans, Whitman tweeted another message that resonated well with Kenyans.
“Reducing visa wait times is my number one priority. We are all working hard to do this!” She said.
On September 16, 2022, just a month after she arrived in Kenya, the US Nairobi embassy released the following statement addressing the visa backlog issue:
As part of Ambassador Whitman’s pledge to reduce the nonimmigrant visa interview appointment backlog, the United States Embassy in Nairobi announced today that it has expanded the Interview Waiver Program for nonimmigrant visas.
Effective immediately, those applying for tourist/business (B1/B2), student (F, J, M), or crew visas (C1/D) categories may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview.
To qualify for this program, you must be applying for the same visa category, and your visa cannot have expired more than four years ago. Formerly, the limit was one year. For more information, please visit the Embassy’s website here.
The move impressed Kenyans, who are not used to seeing Western nations responding favorably to their pleas and creating a fair system.
In addition, Whitman has introduced several reforms to streamline the visa application process, such as online forms and an appointment system that allows applicants to schedule their interviews in advance.
Whitman has impressed Kenyans as a hands-on Ambassador who’s not afraid to meet Kenyans where they’re and even learn some Kiswahili. In one video, Whitman tries her hand at chopping cabbage at North Highridge School.
“On my visit to North Highridge School this week, I stopped by the kitchen and was delighted to have met Susan Njeri. Kazi yake kuandaa chakula cha kila siku cha wanafunzi ni muhimu sana,” Whitman tweeted, adding some Kiswahili, to connect with the locals.
Creating a partnership between US and Kenya
Whitman has also made a concerted effort to promote economic growth and investment in Kenya. Her efforts have facilitated trade and investment between US and Kenyan businesses, leading to job creation and economic development in both countries.
Another significant change that Whitman has brought about is the emphasis on promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in Kenya. She has worked closely with civil society organizations and the Kenyan government to support democratic processes and human rights initiatives.
Since Whitman became Ambassador, Kenya has received high-profile visits from the US, such as Bill Gates in November last year, where Gates promised to invest $7 billion to support African countries in the fight against hunger, disease, and inequality and implementing innovation. And the latest visit by US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who just concluded her visit. Biden’s visit partially fulfills Whitman’s Christmas message promise of having high-profile visitors from the US.
A Republican serving a Democratic Administration
Whitman has a long history of involvement in Republican politics. She was an active fundraiser for the Republican Party, and in 2008, she served as a national co-chair of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.
In 2010, Whitman ran for governor of California as a Republican candidate. Her campaign was one of the most expensive in the state’s history, with Whitman spending over $144 million of her own money. Despite her big spending, she lost the election to Democrat Jerry Brown.
During her campaign, Whitman’s platform focused on job creation, cutting government spending, and improving education.
However, in recent years, she has demonstrated a willingness to break with the party on certain issues
Endorsing President Joe Biden
In 2020, Whitman was among the few Republicans who publicly endorsed President Joe Biden in the US presidential election, breaking with her party’s candidate, former President Donald Trump.
She cited Biden’s experience, and character as reasons for her endorsement, and her willingness to cross party lines demonstrated her commitment to putting country over party.
Whitman’s endorsement of Biden was not the first time she had broken with the Republican Party. She has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies, particularly on issues such as immigration and trade.
Her confirmation as the eighteenth United States Ambassador to Kenya in a unanimous vote by the US Senate on July 14, 2022, is a testament to her impressive credentials.
Whitman holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Princeton University. She presented her credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta on August 5, 2022.
She is married to Dr. Griffith Harsh, a neurosurgeon. They have two grown sons and two grandchildren.
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