US Ambassador to Kenya Resigns

Posted June 29th, 2012 at 6:55 am (UTC-5)
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The U.S. ambassador to Kenya has unexpectedly resigned, citing tension with superiors in Washington.

Scott Gration released a statement Friday announcing he had submitted his resignation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama, to be effective July 28th.

In the statement, Gration said “differences with Washington regarding my leadership style and certain priorities” led him to his decision.

He did not elaborate, and the U.S. embassy in Nairobi had no comment beyond the statement.

Gration has served as ambassador to Kenya for a little more than 14 months, after spending two years as Mr. Obama's special envoy to Sudan.

The diplomat said being ambassador to Kenya was a “dream job” for him and his wife Judy. Gration spent part of his childhood in Kenya, and served a two-year assignment in the country during a long career with the U.S. Air Force.