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Sunday, 4 October 2026
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Sunday, 4 October 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

State Department

Also known as: State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development

US department handling diplomatic affairs, visa policy, and international engagement, active in Kenya and across Africa.

2026-04-282026-10-04
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026

  2. Citizen Digital

    … The State Department confirmed that it would offer a limited-edition passport to mark this year's 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. …

    Trump to put his picture in US passports
World & Region

US Senate confirms Henry Wooster as Kenya ambassador

The News

The US Senate has confirmed Henry Wooster as Washington's next ambassador to Kenya by voice vote, clearing the way for the career diplomat to take up the Nairobi posting ahead of Kenya's 2027 General Election. Wooster told the Senate that the US principal concern regarding the 2027 elections would be stability and avoidance of violence, stating the US is "not picking sides in the election."

1 October 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 1 October

  1. US Senate confirms Henry Wooster as Kenya ambassador

    The US Senate has confirmed Henry Wooster as Washington's next ambassador to Kenya by voice vote, clearing the way for the career diplomat to take up the Nairobi posting ahead of Kenya's 2027 General Election. Wooster told the Senate that the US principal concern regarding the 2027 elections would be stability and avoidance of violence, stating the US is "not picking sides in the election."

    1 October 2026 · Capital News →

Sunday 20 September

  1. Trump returns early from Camp David amid Middle East tensions

    U.S. President Donald Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David to return unexpectedly to the White House on Saturday as tensions rose in the Middle East. No official explanation was given for the change, though forecasts showed rain and thunderstorms were expected in the Camp David area on Sunday.

    20 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 19 September

  1. Clinical officers sustain 60-day strike in 15 counties over CBA

    Clinical officers have continued their strike, which began July 20, in 15 counties whose governors have not signed and implemented the Collective Bargaining Agreement. According to Kenya Union of Clinical Officers secretary general George Gibore, 38 counties have now signed the CBA (up from 11 at the strike's start), but eight counties—Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Uasin Gishu, Lamu, and Baringo—have not, and the union blames county employers for breaching Labour Relations Act timelines.

    19 September 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 17 September

  1. US denies visas to Palestinian Authority officials for UN assembly

    The United States has refused visas for Palestinian Authority officials, including president Mahmoud Abbas, to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week. The State Department cited their failure to reform and ongoing activities that undermine peace prospects, while the Palestinian foreign ministry rejected the decision as unjustified and contrary to rebuilding trust.

    17 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 16 September

  1. 1,189 sentenced for political violence since 2022

    Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told the Senate that at least 1,189 people have been sentenced for offences linked to political violence and goonism since 2022, citing this as evidence that security agencies and courts are taking action against individuals involved in politically-associated violence.

    16 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 26 August

  1. US to revoke visas of asylum seekers who entered as tourists

    The US State Department plans to revoke visas of foreigners who entered the country as temporary visitors but then applied for asylum. The White House suggested up to 200,000 visas could be affected, though the State Department said the number remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.

    26 August 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 25 July

  1. Ruto's university funding model faces same crisis as predecessor

    President Ruto's Student-Centred Funding Model, introduced in September 2023 to address underfunding at public universities, is now facing chronic funding deficits as billions of shillings for scholarships, loans, and capitation remain unfunded. The government is preparing another overhaul of university financing after successive funding formulas have all been underfunded.

    25 July 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 18 July

  1. US Secretary of State Rubio visits Southeast Asia for partnership talks

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to the Philippines to meet with Southeast Asian counterparts at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. The trip aims to advance US priorities for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" amid tensions in the Middle East and US concerns about China's alleged election interference.

    18 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 13 July

  1. US announces campaign to weaken International Criminal Court

    The Trump administration announced a sweeping campaign against the ICC, accusing it of posing "an intolerable threat to US sovereignty" and vowing to pressure other countries to withdraw from the court and cut financial support. The campaign aims to "systematically disable the ICC's ability to operate, target American servicemen or officials, or otherwise threaten American sovereignty."

    13 July 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 27 June

  1. Lebanon, Israel and US sign trilateral peace framework agreement

    Lebanon, Israel and the United States signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at brokering peace between the two adversaries. The agreement includes a pilot effort for Lebanese soldiers to take control of two Israeli-occupied areas and a process to disarm Hezbollah, following five rounds of talks in Washington.

    27 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 26 June

  1. UN suspends evacuation after attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz

    An attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday prompted the UN to suspend evacuation efforts for trapped mariners. The Iranian authority regulating the strait warned that passage outside designated routes will not receive safe passage guarantees, as the US cautioned against Iran charging fees for transit through the vital waterway.

    26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Government targets three million IDs issued by year-end

    The government aims to issue three million national identity cards by the end of the year following reforms that have reduced processing time. The ongoing nationwide registration drive has already issued 1.5 million IDs in the last five months, with the State Department now using digital technology to issue cards within ten days and replacements within a day.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 20 June

  1. Five killed in Israeli strikes despite Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

    Lebanese state media reported fresh Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday that killed five people, despite a new ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group announced a day earlier. The National News Agency reported strikes on more than a dozen locations in south Lebanon, with casualties in Arab Salim, Deir Zahrani, and Dweir.

    20 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 6 June

  1. US grants visas to Iranian footballers for 2026 World Cup

    The US has confirmed that Iran's national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US despite ongoing regional tensions between the two countries.

    6 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Trump nominates career diplomat Wooster as US ambassador to Kenya

    President Donald Trump has nominated veteran diplomat Henry Wooster as the next United States ambassador to Kenya, pending approval by the U.S. Senate. Wooster, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, takes over from Meg Whitman, who served until November 2024.

    2 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. U.S. to cut Africa visa processing centers by more than half

    The United States plans to reduce visa processing facilities across Africa from nearly 50 to 20 designated regional hubs, a move expected to affect thousands of travelers seeking U.S. entry. The consolidation is part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and tightened visa vetting procedures, with implementation expected to begin in June.

    2 June 2026 · Capital News →

  3. Trump nominates career diplomat Henry Wooster as US ambassador to Kenya

    US President Donald Trump has nominated career diplomat Henry Wooster as US ambassador to Kenya, ending a vacancy since Meg Whitman resigned in November 2024. The White House forwarded Wooster's nomination to the US Senate on Monday, June 1, for consideration and confirmation.

    2 June 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 30 May

  1. U.S. expresses optimism over Kenya Ebola facility court case

    The United States government has expressed confidence it will resolve concerns raised over plans to establish an Ebola isolation and treatment facility in Kenya, after the High Court temporarily halted the project following a legal challenge. The U.S. Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance said Washington was engaging Kenyan authorities and remained optimistic that objections would be addressed.

    30 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. US Secretary of State meets Pakistan's Foreign Minister on Iran talks

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the State Department as negotiations to end the war with Iran continue, with Pakistan acting as mediator between the two countries.

    30 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 29 May

  1. US allocates additional $80 million to Ebola response in Congo, Uganda

    The United States announced an additional $80 million allocation to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, bringing total US aid to $112 million since the outbreak began. The funds will support protective equipment for healthcare workers, regional border screening, and test kits.

    29 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 28 May

  1. Trump administration proposes Trump portrait on $250 bill

    Trump administration officials have pressed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump's portrait, according to the Washington Post. If carried out, it would be the first time a living person has appeared on US currency in a century and a half.

    28 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 21 May

  1. Fugitive Polish justice minister fled to US on May 9

    Zbigniew Ziobro, a former Polish justice minister facing charges related to alleged misuse of money for political gain, flew from Milan to New York on May 9 on a foreign media journalist visa, according to Polish prosecutors. Reuters reported that a U.S. Deputy Secretary of State had instructed State Department officials to approve a visa for Ziobro to flee to the U.S. from Hungary.

    21 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Dr. Jane Imbunya named East Africa's Emerging Women Icon

    Public Service Principal Secretary Dr. Jane Imbunya has been recognised at the East Africa Superwoman Awards for Transformative Women Empowerment Leadership. The award recognises her work on inclusive governance, gender equality and reforms aimed at strengthening human capital development and women's participation in public service leadership.

    19 May 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 14 May

  1. US waives visa bonds for World Cup fans with tickets

    The United States said it would ease its visa bond system by waiving bond payments for team members competing in World Cup matches and for fans from competing countries who already have tickets and signed up for a priority visa system. The US had been asking people from 50 developing countries to provide bond payments of $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa as part of migration crackdown initiatives.

    14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. US waives visa bonds for World Cup competitors and ticketed fans

    The United States said it would waive visa bond requirements for team members competing in World Cup matches and for fans from competing countries who have already purchased tickets and signed up for a priority visa system. The bonds, which normally range from $5,000 to $15,000 for visa applicants from 50 developing countries, remain in place for other travellers.

    14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Labour and public service agencies seek more funds for 2026/27

    Ministries and agencies under the Departmental Committee on Labour have appealed to Parliament for additional funding in the 2026/27 financial year, warning that current budget allocations are insufficient to sustain critical programmes. The State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development reported a Sh11 billion shortfall between its allocation of Sh13.563 billion and its requirement of Sh25.45 billion.

    13 May 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 5 May

  1. US Secretary Rubio meets Vatican to discuss Middle East

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to discuss the Middle East situation and mutual interests, the State Department confirmed. The visit comes weeks after Trump criticized Pope Leo over his calls for peace in the Middle East.

    5 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 2 May

  1. US approves arms sales to Qatar and Israel amid Middle East conflict

    The United States approved a $4 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Qatar and a nearly $1 billion sale of precision weapons systems to Israel, citing support for US foreign policy and national security objectives. The Pentagon also announced the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next year.

    2 May 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 1 May

  1. Iran's supreme leader rejects US blockade threats

    Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared that the United States suffered a "disgraceful defeat" in its plans, rejecting President Trump's warning of a prolonged US naval blockade. Khamenei said Iran now controls shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and predicted a future for the Persian Gulf without US interference.

    1 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 29 April

  1. US State Department to issue limited Trump-featured passports

    The US State Department announced it will offer limited-edition passports featuring an image of Donald Trump superimposed over the Declaration of Independence to mark the country's 250th anniversary. Trump would be the first sitting US president featured in American travel documents, according to officials.

    29 April 2026 · The Standard →

State Department — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute