Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NAIROBI157
2006-01-12 13:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER TUJU COMMITS ON ISSUES OF U.S.

Tags:  PREL PTER SNAR EAID ASEC MASS KCOR KE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000157 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DS/ATA; STATE FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2031
TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR EAID ASEC MASS KCOR KE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER TUJU COMMITS ON ISSUES OF U.S.
CONCERN

REF: A. 05 NAIROBI 5240


B. NAIROBI 72

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DS/ATA; STATE FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2031
TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR EAID ASEC MASS KCOR KE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER TUJU COMMITS ON ISSUES OF U.S.
CONCERN

REF: A. 05 NAIROBI 5240


B. NAIROBI 72

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Tuju told Ambassador
January 11 that Kenya will now proceed, in coordination with
the U.S. and UK governments, with the prompt establishment of
the long-stalled Joint Terrorism Task Force. Given the
government's multiple and unfulfilled previous pledges, Tuju
set a two-week deadline for clear evidence of progress. Tuju
also proposed UN-supervised inspection, analysis and
destruction of the ton of seized cocaine being warehoused by
Kenyan authorities. The Ambassador briefed Tuju on U.S.
public and private efforts to expand our drought and famine
relief efforts, for which Tuju noted President Kibaki remains
extremely grateful. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Newly-installed Minister of Foreign Affairs Raphael
Tuju invited the Ambassador to his office on the afternoon of
January 11 to follow up on issues the Ambassador raised
during their initial, December 20 meeting (Ref A). Also
present were Ambassador Boaz Mbaya, Permanent Secretary for
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Magdalene J.
Wambura, new Head of the Americas Desk; and, Daniel Tanui,
Americas Desk First Secretary. PolCouns and Poloff
(notetaker) accompanied the Ambassador.

--------------
Reviving the stalled JTTF?
--------------


3. (C) Minister Tuju opened with, as he put it, the most
crucial issue: achieving forward movement on the
counter-terrorism agenda. Tuju stressed that
counter-terrorism is a serious issue for Kenya (and for the
continued health of its tourism industry). The Kenyan
government, he said, needs to help Kenyans better understand
that combating terrorism is a priority for Kenyan (and not
merely U.S.) national security. He conveyed that he had
spoken to the relevant authorities involved in the Joint

Terrorism Task Force (JTTF),among them: Ambassador Francis
Muthaura, Head of the Civil Service; Police Commissioner Ali;
and Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, Michael
Gichangi. (NOTE: Gichangi is known to be an opponent of the
JTTF. END NOTE.) Tuju said they acknowledged that there are
no substantive obstacles to proceeding with the task force;
all agreed that Ambassador Mbaya should take the lead in
moving the JTTF forward. (NOTE: Mbaya, who participated in
Ambassador's previous JTTF discussions with President Kibaki,
also sits on the National Security Advisory Committee. END
NOTE.) Tuju dismissed the Ambassador's offer to revise the
framework of the JTTF to meet any Kenyan concerns, noting
that Kenyan authorities have no substantive objections to
current framework of the task force. (The problems, he
implied, were institutional and/or personal.) Tuju preferred
to move swiftly to get the JTTF up and running as previously
envisioned -- and approved by President Kibaki. Tuju sought
confirmation that this approach (the JTTF) is supported by
our counterparts in the U.K. High Commission. Demonstrating
their commitment to advancing the counter-terrorism agenda,
Tuju and Mbaya imposed a two-week deadline within which
progress (in some form or another) on re-invigorating the
JTTF shall be made. Tuju also sought (and received)
assurances that the U.S. and Kenyan authorities would also
continue to coordinate the JTTF with the UK High Commission.


-------------- --
Kenya to Work With UNODC on the Cocaine Seizure
-------------- --


4. (C) Tuju next addressed the December 2004 seizure of the
record 1.1 tons of cocaine. Tuju reiterated his previous
concerns about the case and the handling of the seized
narcotics (ref A). He stated that Kenya plans to invite the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (which has a
resident Nairobi Office) to assist in the verification,

inspection, and destruction of the mammoth drug haul. The
Ambassador noted that such cooperation would significantly
allay the fears of the donor community about the integrity of
the seizure and the officials charged with its safekeeping.
Tuju said threats of corruption (and intimidation) will exist
as long as the drugs are not destroyed.


5. (C) Tuju spoke with the Attorney General regarding the
status of legal tools to aid anti-drug trafficking efforts.
He explained that the completed protocol to the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Regulations on seizure,
analysis, and disposal, which has been with the Attorney
General for several months, need only be gazetted by the
Office of the President to enter into force. (NOTE: This
protocol was drafted in coordination with UNODC, after heavy
donor pressure. END NOTE.) This process, he suggested, would
be significantly less onerous than the legislative steps we
understood the protocol required for implementation; however,
Tuju offered no explanation for the extensive delay in
executing such a simple procedure or the prospects for a
swift gazetting. The protocol would serve as a welcome tool
in facilitating the investigation and prosecution of the 2004
seizure. Tuju also commented on the lack of progress on the
extradition from the Netherlands of a suspect implicated in
the drug trafficking case and stated his intent to follow up
with the Dutch Ambassador to pursue the matter further.

--------------
U.S. Assistance to Kenya
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador took the occasion to highlight the
role of private U.S. organizations in providing assistance to
Kenya. He cited the previous day's ceremonies, attended by
President Kibaki, launching water projects throughout Kenya.
The Ambassador explained that Living Water International, a
U.S. NGO, was behind the projects and has been influential in
gaining financial assistance to the region from the U.S.
Congress. He explained that recently 20 million USD had been
earmarked for additional water projects in East Africa. Tuju
relayed that the President had spoken very highly of his
involvement in the launch ceremonies. (COMMENT: Indeed,
Kenyan papers this week have trumpeted President Kibaki's
high profile and effusive comments of thanks for U.S.
support. END COMMENT.) The Ambassador also stated that the
U.S. would shortly be announcing additional drought and
famine relief assistance. Tuju indicated that the MFA would
soon be formalizing the President's request for famine relief
assistance and provide more details on specific needs.

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


7. (C) COMMENT: As the new Foreign Minister, Tuju is off to a
galloping start. His efforts to re-start the derailed JTTF
and to address concerns about the cocaine seizure are
welcome, and demonstrate his influence and ability to bring
issues to the fore. Indeed, Tuju's commitment begs the
question as to why it was he, and not the Internal Security
Minister, who now promises to deliver on the JTTF. But as
both a former Minister of Tourism and a former Minister of
Information, Tuju understands all too well that yet another
al Qaeda attack in Kenya would have long-lasting negative
consequences. (Indeed, the issue of the just-renewed Travel
Warning, previously a perennial bone of contention, never
came up.) Because we have heard their promises before, from
President Kibaki on down, we remain skeptical of the
government's commitment to the formation of a JTTF. Until we
clearly see evidence that the Kenyans are indeed serious this
time, we intend to continue with efforts at building the
counterterrorism capabilities of the Anti-Terrorism Police
Unit through the DS Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program.


8. (C) COMMENT (Cont.): Minister Tuju also realizes that
narco-corruption not only will give Kenya a black eye
internationally but threaten democratic reforms and stability
at home. The JTTF was stood down almost one year ago; since

then, we have heard promises that proved to be nothing more
than false starts. The challenge for us now is to capitalize
quickly on Tuju's evident desire to improve bilateral
relations (in the wake of his negligent predecessor). Any
slowdown will provide internal political opponents -- and, in
the cocaine case, officials threatened by closer scrutiny --
time to place obstacles in our path. END COMMENT.
BELLAMY