TERRORISM TRIALS: SUGGESTED LETTER FROM SECRETARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002519

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PHUM KISL ASEC CASC KE
SUBJECT: TERRORISM TRIALS: SUGGESTED LETTER FROM SECRETARY
TO FORMIN

REF: A. A) NAIROBI 2409


B. B) NAIROBI 2071

C. C) NAIROBI 1947

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Leslie V. Rowe for reasons 1.4 (b,
d)


1. (C) In the wake of the June 9 ruling in the Kikambala
murder trials reftels Post believes a display of high-level
interest from Washington would be useful for advancing our
counter-terrorism objectives in Kenya. Post proposes that
the Secretary send a letter to her counterpart, Foreign
Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere. Following is a draft text of a
letter for the Department's consideration.


2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:

Dear Minister Mwakwere:

I have followed closely the developments and recent outcome
of the murder trial linked to the 2002 Kikambala terror
attacks. Please express my heartfelt sympathy to victims of
the attack and their families, as their desire for justice
remains unfulfilled.

The U.S. Government believes that all those guilty of
planning or perpetrating acts of terror must one day be
brought to justice. The ruling in the murder trial suggests
inadequacies in Kenya's ability to investigate and prosecute
terrorism cases, and this has considerable impact on the
country's future security.

The Kikambala murder trial highlights areas that must be
improved upon within Kenya's security, prosecutorial, and
investigative services. Moreover, it underscores the need
for heightened inter-ministerial cooperation when undertaking
the investigation and prosecution of terrorism. For the sake
of the victims of Kikambala, more must be done.

We stand by Kenya in its efforts to further safeguard its
national security. The U.S. Government has already offered
assistance in the anti-terrorism arena, most notably the
US$10 million of support my government is providing to your
Government's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF),which was
created to help address the critical issue of
inter-ministerial cooperation. The United States of America
is prepared to assist Kenya in preventing future attacks, as
well as investigating and prosecuting successful or attempted
acts of terrorism.

As has been noted several times of late in the Kenyan media,
the Kikambala murder trial also points out the need for
appropriate legislation to cover acts of terrorism. As you
are aware, Kenya has not yet fulfilled its international
obligation under UNSCR 1373 and similar commitments to the
Africa Union to ensure that terrorist acts are established as
serious criminal offences in its domestic laws. I urge you
to use the momentum provided by the recent trial to quickly
review the draft bill, seriously study inputs from
knowledgeable civil society groups, and pass the appropriate
legislation.

Kenya remains one of our closest friends and allies on the
African continent. We suffered together through the horrific
events of 1998. I look forward to continuing our close
cooperation in order to ensure that Kenya never again has to
suffer from terrorism.

(END TEXT)
ROWE