MICHUKI UNBOWED, BUT OPPOSITION GROWS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000988 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2026 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC KE SUBJECT: MICHUKI UNBOWED, BUT OPPOSITION GROWS TO ANTI-MEDIA RAIDS IN KENYA Classified By: Political Counselor Michael J. Fitzpatrick. Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Security Minister Michuki remains unbowed in his conviction that the police actions against independent media were fully legal and justified in the name of national security. Civil society, the media and opposition parliamentarians plan a day of peaceful protest against what many see as another salvo in a campaign of political intimidation. A number of Michuki's cabinet counterparts have denounced his unilateral action, but most simply try to stay under the radar. Chief among those keeping a very low profile is President Kibaki. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE? In the Kenya of March 2006, corruption is so "last month." Indeed, January and February were dominated by almost daily revelations about which ministers had been stealing how much from which spigot of the public trough. But now, following the February 20 moves against the tabloid Weekly Citizen, the February 28 arrests of three Standard journalists and the March 2 police raids on the Standard Media Group, Kenyan focus has shifted suddenly and dramatically. The question now is just how intent is this government to restrict "democratic space," in particular that of the electronic media? A related question, of course, is just who is running this "government"? ¶3. (U) MICHUKI CLAIMS NATIONAL SECURITY PROMPTED RAIDS: National Security Minister John Michuki released a statement March 3 to provide the official rationale for the raids. In full, Michuki stated, "there has been criticism leveled against the Government due to the Police action that was undertaken at the offices of the Standard Group. Yesterday the Police issued a statement that was largely ignored and rubbished by the media. The Government is in possession of materials retrieved from the computers taken from the Standard. These materials contain serious matters detrimental to the security of this country. We are studying the materials and have asked the Commissioner of Police to expedite investigations so that the necessary cause (sic) of action can be taken." ¶4. (C) BUT KENYAN PUBLIC, PARTIES AND MEDIA "JUST SAY NO": But Michuki's words have only enflamed, not doused, public opposition. The media remain fearful of more raids, with the Standard alleging a follow-on raid was called off, and the flagship Nation newspaper wondering if it is next. The Law Society of Kenya has termed the raids illegal, as has the Kenya chapter of the international Commission of Jurists. Maina Kiai, chairman of the government-funded (if independent) Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (and himself a Kikuyu),has been highly visible and vocal in his denunciations. He has privately told poloff he views the raids as just the latest action in a government-sponsored "mud smearing" campaign of political intimidation. Philip Murgor, former Director of Public Prosecutions, told PolCouns the raids were "lacking in probable cause and totally illegal." Transparency International's Kenya chapter denounced the government's resorting to "jungle law," and warned of "a slippery slope to anarchy." Kenya's major religious denominations, from the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM) to Catholic and Anglican Church notables, used this weekend's services to denounce the steps as illegal threats to Kenyan democracy. Civil society organizations, media watchdog groups and the political constellation of opposition parties known as the Orange Democratic Movement have called for a peaceful national day of protest, Tuesday, March 7. Raila Odinga -- ODM figure, Luo tribal leader and the personal bete noire of Minister Michuki -- has renewed with intensity his post-referendum assertions that President Kibaki has "lost his legitimacy" and should thus call for early elections. Even disgraced former Security Minister Chris Murungaru has climbed on the bandwagon to denounce his successor's actions. ¶5. (SBU) ARE THERE FOREIGN GUERRILLAS IN THE MIDST?: Odinga also fed the flames of conspiracy with suggestions that "foreign mercenaries" may have taken part in the police raids. Though he may have simply been speculating in the wake of eyewitness reports that hooded white or Asian men with foreign accents -- and hurling racial epithets at the Kenyans -- seemed to be occupying some leadership positions among the police raiders, Odinga also has suggested the outsiders may have been brought in to kill opposition leaders, starting with himself. The Standard, however, detailed March 6 the daily activities of four unnamed foreigners said to have participated in the raids. Speculating they may be from Russia, Ukraine or Bosnia, the Standard claimed the Kenyan Government was providing vehicles, security and paying the hotel bills for the men. Several are reported to have been seen with some of the seized computers, near the Government offices of official spokesmen Alfred Mutua. Seemingly unintimidated by the raids, The Standard also made clear it knows a fair amount about the strangers, down to where they drink their whiskies and get their haircuts. ¶6. (U) MORE GOVERNMENT DISTANCING FROM THE RAIDS: Police Commissioner Ali returned to the country over the weekend, and repeated his previous assertions that the raids were carried on without his knowledge. Defense Minister Karume has similarly stated he had no prior involvement. Health Minister Charity Ngilu appeared in Raila Odinga's Langata constituency over the weekend and publicly denounced the police raids. Presidential Advisor for Strategy Stanley Murage carefully denied published reports that he attended a planning meeting the night before the raids were carried out. For his part, President Kibaki has steadfastly remained mute, even avoiding his usual informal address to the congregation outside Church after Sunday Mass. The President did, however, suggest there is no need for popular (much less political) panic when he confirmed March 3 that he would call Parliament back into session March 21. (He prorogued Parliament after the November defeat of his proposed new constitution.) ¶7. (U) BUT NOT EVERYONE: Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua is thus far the main, if not only, cabinet minister to come to the aid of Internal Security Minister Michuki. While she clearly had no advance knowledge of the raids, Karua has publicly stated "there was nothing illegal" in the raids. (See septel for Ambassador's meeting with Karua.) ¶8. (C) COMMENT: The headstrong actions of Minister Michuki have put President Kibaki and his team of Kikuyu insiders in a tight spot. Few in government knew in advance of the raids -- and fewer still could have predicted the outrage it has provoked. Most Ministers appear to be keeping their heads down, letting Michuki take the heat for his own actions. That the Justice Minister, of all ministers, has turned tribal cheerleader instead of condemning the Security Minister's conclusion that he can bypass all legal channels to seize anyone's computers and shut down any media is indeed a sad commentary. And still, the President says nothing. The concern is that, backed into a corner, renowned for a willingness to resort to violence, and given a long leash by the President, what will Michuki do next? BELLAMY