Why the US Embassy Will be Closed on Thursday, January 9
The US Embassy in Kenya will be temporarily closed on Thursday, January 9.
In a statement shared on their X account, the embassy announced that it will remain closed to observe the national day of mourning for the late former President Jimmy Carter.
“In observance of the National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. Embassy will be closed on Thursday, January 9,” the embassy stated.
Carter passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday, December 29, at his home in Florida. He was the oldest living former or current U.S. President in American history.
A state funeral is scheduled for Thursday, and his body is currently lying in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Many U.S. leaders have visited the Capitol to pay their respects to the former President, who was well-known for his humanitarian work in the Middle East.
Carter served as the 39th U.S. President from 1977 to 1981 as a member of the Democratic Party. Before his presidency, he was the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975 and served in the Georgia State Senate from 1963 to 1967.
In the wake of his passing, leaders from around the globe have praised Carter, emphasizing his steadfast dedication to public service and goodwill. Notably, one of his first actions as president was to declare unconditional amnesty for Vietnam War-era draft evaders, reflecting his efforts to promote peace.
ALSO READ:
- Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
- Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
- African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
- “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
- Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm
President William Ruto eulogized Carter as “an extraordinary leader whose dedication to public service was epic.” Ruto also acknowledged Carter as a “powerful champion for global peace and human rights.”
Ruto further highlighted Carter’s significant contributions to tackling climate change, acknowledging his efforts in promoting climate advocacy. “We owe a great deal to his groundbreaking voice in championing actions for a healthier planet that have safeguarded our natural environment and mitigated climate change,” Ruto stated.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, who has ties to Kenya, remembered Carter as a man committed to the public good and the welfare of humanity.
“He believed some things were more important than reelection — things like integrity, respect, and compassion. Because Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image,” Obama noted.
The U.S. Embassy, represented by Charge d’Affaires Marc Dillard, paid tribute to Carter, emphasizing his significant contributions to Africa, such as his work to end apartheid in South Africa and his near success in eradicating Guinea worm disease.
Prominent world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and former President Barack Obama, are anticipated to be present at Carter’s funeral in Washington, D.C
Why the US Embassy Will be Closed on Thursday, January 9
