Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NAIROBI4331
2005-10-18 13:54:00
SECRET
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR PRESSES KENYAN MFA ON SECURITY AND

Tags:  PREL ASEC PTER KE SO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 004331 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ASEC PTER KE SO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES KENYAN MFA ON SECURITY AND
TERRORISM

REF: NAIROBI 4203

Classified By: Pol/C Michael J. Fitzpatrick; Reasons: 1.4(B&D).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 004331

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ASEC PTER KE SO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES KENYAN MFA ON SECURITY AND
TERRORISM

REF: NAIROBI 4203

Classified By: Pol/C Michael J. Fitzpatrick; Reasons: 1.4(B&D).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Ambassador stressed continuing U.S. security
concerns and urged the Kenyan government to focus on
combating terrorism during his October 7 meeting with Foreign
Ministry's Permanent Secretary. PS Mbaya emphasized Kenya's
concerns re Somalia as a source of threats and pledged the
Kenyan government would continue its CT efforts despite
domestic attention being centered on the debate over a
proposed new constitution. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) Ambassador called on Foreign Ministry Permanent
Secretary Boaz Mbaya October 7. The new head of the Americas

SIPDIS
Desk, Ambassador M.K. M'Ithiri plus staffers from the
Americas Desk and Legal Affairs, accompanied Mbaya. PolCouns
(notetaker) accompanied the Ambassador. (NOTE: Discussion of
the draft UN Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions
was reported septel.)


3. (S) The Ambassador reviewed for Mbaya his recent
discussions with Security Minister Michuki (reftel),and hit
the same themes again: The U.S. is concerned that threat
levels in the region are trending upwards. There are
increased signs of terrorist surveillance and planning in
Kenya. There is a growing jihadist threat in Somalia, a
menace that can quickly and easily deploy to Kenya. At least
one of those Kenyan citizens freed by the courts in June has
begun renewed plotting against U.S. interests in Kenya.
Partly as a result of these developments, the USG quietly
canceled the planned visit of the USS Gonzalez to Mombasa and
advised the "Semester at Sea" program against visiting in
October. He outlined continuing Kenyan government
shortcomings that inhibit joint ability to protect ourselves:
lack of A Joint Terrorism Task Force, lack of CT legislation,
and legal inability to even charge plotters if the government
decided to detain them. Mbaya provided a strong pledge for
increased government attention to the issues, even as
"referendum fever" is dominating governmental discussions
before the November 21 vote on a new national constitution.


4. (S) SOMALIA: Mbaya focused on Somalia as the source of
threats to regional stability. Mbaya stressed that Somali

President Yusuf had "squashed" extremist groups when he had
been President of the Somali Puntland,. He predicted Yusuf
would do the same now "if there were a more proactive role"
throughout Somalia, and specifically in support of Yusuf at
the expense of Mogadishu-based factions of the Transitional
Federal Institutions. Mbaya noted Kenya was pleased with the
role being played by UN SRSG Fall. He noted that the Kenyan
government is planning to soon move against the corruption at
Wilson Airport, saying the government is concerned about
illegal flights and passengers transiting Wilson, as well as
money flows in support of the khat ("miraa") traffic. All
flight clearances to/from Somalia must be approved in
advance.


5. (S) The Kenyan government is currently drafting a "Plan
of Action" to support the TFIs to re-establish centralized
law and order. He sought funding and political support for
this initiative. Kenya envisions training 5000 Somali police
in general security and 200 more to specialize in government
institution and VIP protection. Among the issues still to be
addressed: Who feeds the troops? Who collects the guns turned
in from warlords' militias? What guarantees are provided to
(and by) local communities who cooperate? Mbaya asserted the
UN arms embargo was never intended to limit the ability of a
new government to establish itself in Somalia. But he
concluded, Kenya supports the deployment of an outside force
in support of the TFG, not the outright lifting of the arms
embargo. He encouraged USG support for the Transitional
Federal Government as "the only game in town." The
Ambassador noted a USG Somali policy review was underway and
stressed our continuing support for all the institutions of
the transitional authorities.


6. (C) REFERENDUM: The Ambassador expressed concern that
government ministers were publicly accusing foreign envoys of
financially supporting the "NO" camp in the run-up to
November's referendum on a proposed new constitution. The
charge is false -- and damaging to good relations. Mbaya
agreed, while adding that such charges are not the
government's official position, only the personal "political"
views of individual ministers. He said the perception was
based in the envoys' having publicly criticized government
use of funds for the YES campaign.


7. (u) AUGUST 7 MEMORIAL PARK: The Ambassador also raised
the issue of Kenyan protesters having taken over the site of
the former U.S. Embassy, the August 7th Memorial Park (NB:
the protesters are seeking compensation for injuries
sustained in the 1998 al Qaeda attack; septel). He
encouraged the Foreign Ministry to accept an invitation to
appoint a member to the Board that manages the park. Mbaya
encouraged the Board to send him a formal letter of request,
which he said the MFA would look upon favorably.
BELLAMY