Whitman, who checked into Nairobi in August to begin her stint as Ambassador, expressed her commitment to tackling the long visa wait times. The challenges in getting a visa have been a major source of discontent for Kenyans intending to travel to the US for various reasons - including education and business.

Her comments come at a time when US big tech is significantly expanding its footprint in Kenya.

The seasoned business executive unsuccessfully ran for Governor of California as a Republican in 2010, but supported Democrat Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Biden in 2016 and 2020 respectively.