DHS/TSA MANPADS TEAM VISIT SUCCESSFUL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 004262 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, S/CT, AND EB/TRA/AN DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CORNELIA HUNTER MONTREAL FOR USICAO TSA FOR ROBERT MCLAUGHLIN SIPDIS FAA FOR DONNA KRIMSKI SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR PTER ECON DHS KE SUBJECT: DHS/TSA MANPADS TEAM VISIT SUCCESSFUL SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR USG USE ONLY. ¶1. (SBU) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officers, Mr. Santo Polizzi and Mr. David Thomas, completed a successful October 22-26 visit to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess the airport for vulnerabilities related to Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). ¶2. (SBU) Following an in-briefing on Monday with airport stakeholders, the team was accompanied throughout the week by representatives from each of the Kenyan agencies with a role in security at the airport: Mr. Justus Kabaka (Kenya Airports Authority, Manager of Security Services),Mr. George Nakasangah (Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation Security Inspector),Mr. Paul Langat (Kenya Police Superintendent/Staff Officer for Administration),and Mr. David Ngondi (Security Analyst/Chief Inspector/Instructor). Other officers from these agencies, plus the Kenya Wildlife Service and the General Services Unit participated in some phases of the visit. ¶3. (SBU) The team received tremendous support from the Kenya Wildlife Service and all stakeholders at the airport, which allowed them access to all the resources they needed in order to conduct the assessment. The team educated security officials on how to conduct MANPADS airport assessments and consider a range of mitigation options. They also left copies of all their assessment materials, photos taken, and other materials developed in the assessment with the Kenyan agencies for their use in training. ¶4. (SBU) The team will forward the completed written report in approximately two months, through the US Embassy Nairobi. Thereafter, the East African Aviation Security Advisor (Safe Skies for Africa Program)/TSA Representative, Gerald Moore, will follow-up to check the status of their efforts to mitigate the highlighted vulnerabilities. ¶5. (SBU) The team briefed the Deputy Chief of Mission before they began their work, and debriefed the East African Aviation Security Advisor (Safe Skies for Africa Program)/TSA Representative and Econ Officer on October 26, 2007. RANNEBERGER