Alliance of Youth Movements to Hold Anti-Violence Summit Online (New York) December 4-5, 2008

Facebook, Google, YouTube, MTV, Howcast, Columbia Law School, the U.S. Department of State and Access 360 Media are bringing leaders of 17 pioneering organizations from 15 countries together with technology experts next month in New York for the first-ever conclave to empower youth against violence and oppression through the use of the latest online tools to promote freedom and justice and to counter extremism. Join in the America.gov webchat. More...

Ambassador Ranneberger Visits Lamu Cultural Festival November 28-30, 2008 (Photo Gallery)
 

Mashuas grace Lamu's majestic coast, each vying to be the fastest dhow at the Lamu Cultural Festival

Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger and a dozen other Embassy representatives celebrated Swahili culture at the 8th annual Lamu Cultural Festival from November 28 to 30, 2008.  Each year the U.S. Embassy has been the largest donor in support of this exciting demonstration and celebration of Kenya's coastal culture.  This year we were particularly pleased to further support Swahili culture through a $47,241 (3.6 million KSH) grant to the National Museums of Kenya to restore the Lamu Museum and preserve ancient Swahili texts.  Ambassador Ranneberger hosted a number of Lamu locals to watch the canoe races from a beautiful dhow anchored in the crystal blue waters off the town's shore.  He also participated in Saturday afternoon's prize giving ceremony and met with Lamu's Council of Elders.  The Embassy's female representatives were honored to be welcomed among Lamu's women at the bridal display and enjoyed dancing with them and witnessing the numerous ways to wear the beautiful coast kangas.

U.S. Ambassador Renews Commitment to Refugee Issue on Visit to Dadaab November 19, 2008 (Photo Gallery)

Amb. Ranneberger arrives at the Dadaab refugee camp with UNHCR officials to inspect the camp and call for greater Kenyan commitment to the current crisis there.

On November 19, Ambassador Ranneberger visited Dadaab Refugee Camp to express appreciation for Kenya’s continued role in providing support to asylum seekers fleeing Somalia, and to review the current conditions in the camp.  Despite the border closure, over 55,000 new refugees have entered Kenya since January 2008.  The Ambassador commended the efforts of the host community in Fafi district in trying to secure additional land for the settlement of Somali refugees and strongly urged Kenyan authorities to take all necessary steps to finalize the allocation of this land to ease the suffering of current and future inhabitants of the camp. 

The U.S. Government this year provided $25 million dollars (Ksh 2 Million) towards refugee assistance programs in Kenya.  Ambassador Ranneberger assured the residents of Dadaab and the Kenyan government that the US Government stands prepared to request emergency funding to assist UNHCR and NGOs in preparing Liboi Reception Center for full operations and for the construction of new camps.

Ambassador Ranneberger also dedicated a primary school in Dadaab during which he again praised the local community for its generosity in hosting the refugee camp.  He reiterated the US Government’s commitment to assist Dadaab’s local community by saying, “Today we are inaugurating a new primary school that has been rehabilitated by the United States military.  Dadaab has been wonderful in hosting the people in the camps, but the people of Dadaab also need help and that is why we are here today.”

U.S. Air Force Central Expeditionary Band "Dune" gets more than 2,000 singing and dancing Nairobi, Machakos, and Nakuru November 14 to 19, 2008 (Photo Gallery)

Dune rocks it out at Ambassador Ranneberger's residence.

Embassy Nairobi was privileged to host the Air Force Central Expeditionary Band, Dune, from November 13 to 20, 2008.  U.S. military bands have a long tradition of entertaining and making connections through music worldwide.  Dune continued this grand tradition with a six-day musical tour through Nairobi, Machakos, and Nakuru where they entertained over 2,000 students, professionals, artists, Kenyan government officials, and others .   Dune is an upbeat group of talented musicians bringing audiences rock, jazz and blues favorites, new and old. Their Kenya tour began on Friday, November 14 with a lively performance at the U.S. Ambassador Ranneberger's residence where the audience could hardly sit still, and a surprise performance by the German Ambassador and local vocalist Rita Khapushi had the crowd roaring with their rendition of Tina Turner's Respect.  In a gesture of cross-cultural exchange, Dune shared the stage with the Kenyan Army Band. Whether playing to hundreds of students at the Machakos Institute of Technology, to kids of all ages at Langata's Sadili Ovale Sports Center, to over 1,200 Egerton University students in Nakuru, or to hundreds of Kenyatta University students in Nairobi, Dune got the audience on its feet and often on the stage playing a variety of percussion instruments.

Ambassador Ranneberger Hosts U.S. Election Celebrations (Photo Gallery1) (Photo Gallery2)

November 5, 2008

In the pre-dawn darkness, girls from the Buruburu Secondary School line up to be the first to come to the Mission election party.

At 7 a.m. Nairobi time, 2000 Kenyan voices -- including several government and religious ministers and 1,000 high school and university students -- erupted in cheers as they heard and saw the historic election of Senator Barack Obama -- Kenya's "Favorite Son" -- as the next President of the United States of America.

Ambassador Michael Ranneberger invited over 2,500 Kenyans to join Embassy staff and resident Americans to monitor the election results at his Residence starting from 5:00 a.m.. Two thousand visitors were breathless first in anticipation as the electoral count mounted and then in cheering the election of the son of one of their own.

Ambassador Ranneberger addressed the crowd soon after Senator McCain conceded and Senator Obama spoke to the thousands gathered in Chicago, citing the rigor of the contest, the focus on issues over personality, the diversity of the electorate and, of course, the peaceful transition of power. He also noted the continuing close partnership with Kenya that the morning's events would only deepen. He was joined at the podium by five exceptionally poised secondary students, who read prize-winning letters they had written to Senators McCain and Obama, expressing their impressions and hopes should either be elected.

Virtually covering the Ambassador's residence yard were tents, housing multiple large flat screen TVs and an online projection unit, which were filled to capacity with politicians, officials, business people and especially students who were mesmerized by the unfolding drama of the electoral count. At one end of the veranda, attendees were able to ask questions in webchats with experts in the US. At the other end, attendees were able to follow the electoral vote count closely in the individual state races that determine the final -- non-popular -- vote.

Adults and students alike took the opportunity to cast their ballots for president very seriously indeed and queued patiently, just as they saw Americans do on the big screens -- and as they or their parents and elders did in Kenya's last election in December 2007. For all the students, this was their first experience of participatory democracy and they took full satisfaction in it. They were joined by several government ministers, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Kenyan and other ambassadors, among almost countless others.

Music in Memory of Reporter Daniel Pearl October 25-28, 2008

October 24, 2008

Daniel Pearl World Music Days takes place each year during October, to coincide with Pearl's birthday October 10. This year the Wall Street Journal reporter, who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002 while researching a story, would have been 45. An accomplished musician, Pearl connected to people through music in every country he visited, often joining local music groups and participating in impromptu jam sessions. (More) (Photo Gallery)

2010 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Registration

The DV-2010 Lottery online entry begins at Noon EDT on October 2, 2008, and ends at Noon EST on December 1, 2008. The English version of the DV-2010 Lottery Instructions is available in PDF format for your convenience. The Press Release for the 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration is now available.

U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger Iftaar Dinner Remarks Ambassador’s Residence September 14, 2008

Ambassador Michael Ranneberger offers greetings to the 150 Kenyan and Somali Muslim guests at an Iftar Dinner he hosted at his residence September 14. He is joined by Ambassador John Yates, Special Envoy for Somalia.

Assalaam Aleikum. Ramadan Kareem. I’m honored to host such a distinguished group of ladies and gentlemen for this Iftaar dinner.

I extend my greetings to all Kenyan and Somali Muslims in this holy month of Ramadan.  As Secretary Rice said last week when she hosted an Iftaar at the State Department in Washington, these dinners afford us an opportunity “to gain a deeper understanding of this holy month. More than one billion people find comfort and hope in Islam, and Ramadan inspires them to renew their faith through sacrifice and prayer, reflection and charity.  People of all faiths can appreciate Ramadan’s spirit, one of love for family, devotion to community, and gratitude toward God.” (More) (Photo Gallery)

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