Kenya-US relations to be 'different' under President Trump: Ambassador Gacheru

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart the 2017 Presidential Inauguration at the Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. PHOTO | JACK GRUBER | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure.
  • With Ambassador Robinson Njeru Githae away from the US capital city, Deputy Chief of Mission David Kahiro Gacheru joined emissaries of many countries in attending Mr Trump's swearing-in ceremony.
  • Ambassador Gacheru said that he was “impressed to see all the previous living presidents there, even after a contentious election process.”
  • Asked if he shared the concerns expressed by many commentators regarding Mr Trump's divisive, America-first rhetoric, the Kenyan diplomat counselled patience and the need to take a long-term perspective.

The second-ranking diplomat in Kenya's Washington embassy represented the nation at Friday's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.

With Ambassador Robinson Njeru Githae away from the US capital city, Deputy Chief of Mission David Kahiro Gacheru joined emissaries of many countries in attending Mr Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

“It was good to see a mature democracy at work in making a peaceful transition of power,” Ambassador Gacheru said in an interview following the event.

“The different arms of government also came together to honour the transition,” he noted. “It was all done in a very professional manner.”

Ambassador Gacheru added that he was “impressed to see all the previous living presidents there, even after a contentious election process.”

Asked if he shared the concerns expressed by many commentators regarding Mr Trump's divisive, America-first rhetoric, the Kenyan diplomat counselled patience and the need to take a long-term perspective.

“Time will tell,” he said in regard to whether President Trump will take a confrontational or conciliatory approach on the international stage. “We should wait for at least the first 100 days to see what happens.”

Kenya-US relations are sure to be “different” under President Trump than under Barack Obama, who is part Kenyan, Ambassador Gacheru observed.

“But we hope he [Mr Trump] will get the opportunity to share in our values and that we will be able to communicate to him the accomplishments of our country.”

The US and Kenya “have mutual interests that are not going to change,” he said “This is the basis for us to continue working together.”