Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NAIROBI5096
2005-12-13 01:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

DONNING POLITICAL BLINDERS, KIBAKI SWEARS IN NEW

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHNR #5096/01 3470133
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 130133Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8365
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 8077
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 4339
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 3895
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 1001
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1801
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1798
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 005096 

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LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2025
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KE
SUBJECT: DONNING POLITICAL BLINDERS, KIBAKI SWEARS IN NEW
CABINET AS PLANNED

REF: NAIROBI 4901

Classified By: A/Political Counselor Lisa Peterson for
reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 005096

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SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2025
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KE
SUBJECT: DONNING POLITICAL BLINDERS, KIBAKI SWEARS IN NEW
CABINET AS PLANNED

REF: NAIROBI 4901

Classified By: A/Political Counselor Lisa Peterson for
reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Despite the loss of nearly one quarter of
his new appointees, President Kibaki proceeded with the
swearing-in of his rump cabinet on December 9. In doing so,
the president effectively shut the door on initiating a
dialogue with the marginalized parties to create a body that
is truly one of political unity. Kibaki's actions
demonstrate the extent to which he remains out of touch with
the reality of the political situation facing him. END
SUMMARY.

PRESIDENT ROLLS ON, UNFAZED
--------------


2. (C) Despite calls for Kibaki to put off the cabinet
swearing-in ceremony scheduled for the morning of December 9,
it went on as planned, simply passing over cabinet offices
whose nominees had declined their appointments. Prior to the
ceremony, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, re-nominated to her
post of Assistant Minister for Environment (a slight, some
say, to not be upgraded to full minister considering her
public standing) called for a postponement, urging the
President to pause and consult with all of the NARC
leadership. At least one of the three FORD-K ministers,
Moses Akaranga, Minister of State for Public Service, was
present to be sworn in, in spite of his party's decision to
not participate in the Kibaki cabinet. Conspicuously absent,
however, were Maathai, and Assistant Ministers David Mwenje
(Services),Kipkalia Kones (Public Works),Titus Ngoyoni
(Regional Development),and Sammy Leshore (Labor).
Concluding the event, Kibaki repeatedly referred to the
cabinet as his "chosen team" arrived at through a
"consultative and inclusive" process.


3. (C) The tally of how many ministers and assistant
ministers have declined their cabinet job offers remains a
moving target. Rumors of more "no thank yous" continue,
fuelled by the absences from the swearing-in. The distinct
possibility remains that some appointees, those who declined
for feeling snubbed or under-compensated, will be wooed back
into the Kibaki fold. Listed in this column are all the

FORD-K members, Health Minister Charity Ngilu, and Assistant
Energy Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri. Ngilu, who has already
demonstrated that she is susceptible to enticement, may very
well be holding out for a sweeter deal. Former Minister for
National Heritage Najib Balala told the DCM on December 8
that he believed Peter Kenneth (Assistant Minister for
Financial Management Affairs) and Joshua Toro (Assistant
Minister for Roads and Public Works) would also decline their
appointments. In addition, Assistant Minister for Planning,
Ekwee Ethuro, declined his nomination on December 8.

KIBAKI HUDDLE
--------------


4. (C) As news of cabinet nominees' refusal to join trickled
in on December 8, the president met with several of his
trusted advisors to develop a response to the mounting
political crises. Rumored to have been present at the
meeting are Permanent Secretary in the Office of the
President Stanley Murage, Minister for Special Programs (and
Kibaki confidant) Njenga Karume, Vice President Moody Awori,
Attorney General Amos Wako, and Head of the Civil Service and
Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura. The plan of

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action from this inner circle was clearly to move ahead,
ignoring any suggestions that dialogue and outreach were
necessary.

ORANGES FIRED UP
--------------


5. (C) Reacting to their not unexpected exclusion from the
new cabinet, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders renewed
their call for snap general elections, while continuing to
hold the door open for Kibaki to invite them in. According
to December 9 media reports, Uhuru Kenyatta stated that the
president still had an opportunity to reach out. If he did
not, the ODM would "immediately call for elections to bring
leadership and direction back to Kenya." The ODM also called
off its planned December 10 victory rally in Mombasa, which

the government had banned (Ref A). ODM key figure William
Ruto explained that the group canceled the event because of
security concerns. He accused security forces of planning to
"unleash terror on the public." In his discussion with the
DCM, Balala was somber about the new cabinet, describing the
unfolding events as "dangerous," which was why the group had
chosen to cancel the rally. He nevertheless indicated that
some nominees' refusal to join cabinet was cause for mild
celebration within the ODM. Balala went so far as to state
that ODM could form an alliance with FORD-K, but only to work
on constitutional matters.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) It was evident from the makeup of the group Kibaki
called in to huddle that there would be no dramatic change of
course in the president's plans for his cabinet, one which
would bring him to finally reach out to the ODM. Kibaki
appears intent to stay the course which, based on his remarks
on December 7 and at the swearing-in, is a renewed commitment
to economic development. Kibaki's public professions of
concern for the economic well-being of Kenya seem designed to
distract the public from the bitter constitutional debate.
In chosing this tactic, he is effectively closing the door to
the constitutional dissenters and any possibility of a
reconciled and unified government.


7. (C) The question of how to fill the holes left by
nominees' refusals remains unanswered. As Kibaki has ignored
the suggestion from multiple quarters to engage in a truly
consultative process, his remaining options are to
re-approach some of the no-shows who may be amenable to more
attractive offers, call in his second string choices to fill
in the vacancies, or distribute the open portfolios to the
"loyal" nominees who have accepted their posts. The planned
ODM rally for December 10 could have served as a platform for
the ODM to challenge Kibaki's new government and call for new
elections, but also could have turned ugly. The manner in
which the ODM canceled - placing the onus for its decision on
the government's actions - allowed it to avoid the appearance
of weakness. It also cast the government in a poor light,
recalling images of Moi-era use of force (or threats thereof)
to prevent public debate. The ODM's strategy is not clear at
this time, but we do not expect them to sit quietly by as
Kibaki tries to pretend there are no political problems in
the country. END COMMENT.
BELLAMY