KENYAN REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH INFORMATION

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002397 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KE SUBJECT: KENYAN REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING POSSIBLE HOSTAGES IN IRAQ ¶1. (SBU) Action request - para 3. ¶2. (SBU) Kenyan Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Moses Wetangula requested a May 26 meeting with Ambassador Bellamy to discuss the case of two Kenyan telecommunication engineers possibly abducted in Baghdad. Wetangula presented the Ambassador with a letter detailing the events surrounding the possible abduction of George Noballa and Moses Munyao on January 18, 2006 following an attack on their convoy (all other passengers in the convoy were killed). Neither the Government of Kenya nor the employer, IRAQNA mobil company (a subsidiary of ORASCOM Telecom Holding SAE of Egypt),has received any communication regarding the possible hostages. Wetangula requested that we utilize established channels for dealing with hostage cases to help the Kenyans locate and secure the release of the two. ¶3. (SBU) Action request: Please advise what information may be available on this case and what follow up action may be possible. Should additional information be required from the GoK, please advise and we will convey the message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶4. (U) Text of the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows: MFA.231/252A The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to inform the esteemed Embassy as follows: On 18th January 2006, two Kenyan Telecommunication Engineers were abducted in Baghdad by unknown insurgents following a roadside attack on their convoy. Messrs George Noballa and Moses Munyao were working for IRAQNA mobile company, a subsidiary of ORASCOM Telecom Holding SAE of Egypt. The whereabouts of the two Kenyans is still unknown as no insurgent group has claimed responsibility nor demanded any ransom even from IRAQNA, the employer company. The Government has pursued and continues to pursue this matter relentlessly with the aim of locating the whereabouts of our two Kenyans and their ultimate release. The Government is in touch with the families of Moses Munyao, George Noballa and the Senior Management of Orascom in Cairo. In view of this development and acknowledging your Government's successful efforts in the past in securing the release of hostages held under similar circumstances as the two Kenyans, the Government of Kenya is formally requesting the United States of America to assist in tracing, locating and eventual release of the two Kenyan held hostages in Badghdad The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. 25th May 2006 NAIROBI End text of letter. BELLAMY