DIVERSION REQUEST FOR CASE KE-B-UAD

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001809 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, PM/RSAT ARCHETTO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL KE XW SUBJECT: DIVERSION REQUEST FOR CASE KE-B-UAD REFERENCE: Nairobi 1449 ¶1. The following letter was sent to the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy at U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency by COL David McNevin, the U.S. Defense Representative to Kenya. It is a follow up of reftel country team assessment that requested expedited approval for the sale of small arms to the Kenyan Army. Begin text: Kenya-US Liaison Office (KUSLO),on behalf of the Country Team, Nairobi, Kenya requests diversion of assets from FMS cases to expedite delivery of M-16A4 and M-4A1 weapon systems. The Chief of the General Staff, General Jeremiah Kianga, has personally made the request to the KUSLO several times as a matter of great urgency. The Country Team supports the Kenyan Ministry of Defense's assessment that they urgently require new individual weapon systems due to the notoriously unreliable nature of their current weapons systems. The current weapons do not meet the military's needs in defending Kenyan borders against a host of transnational threats. The Country Team Assessment message further elaborates the requirement for expedited procurement based upon the strategic environment. Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania have all been sources of tension in the past for the Government of Kenya (GOK). Most pressing is the threat posed from Somalia'last month, suspected terrorist operatives tried to infiltrate the border with large amounts of money and weapons. They were arrested and subsequently freed by an armed group that moved back into Somalia. This is but one example of the threat posed by the long porous borders with Somalia and is a central reason for concern to both the GOK and the US Government (USG). Through this border came the explosives that destroyed the US Embassies in both Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, the attempted shoot-down of an Israeli jet, and the Kikambala bomb which killed dozens at a coastal hotel in 2002. US forces operate daily in conjunction with Kenyan forces in order to counter regional terrorism in North East Africa. As such, the threats to Kenyan and US interests in North East Africa are well known. Kenya's desire to rapidly acquire modern US-manufactured individual weapons directly ties into current and future bilateral training. Obtaining a minimum of 500-600, or more, M16A4s/M4A1s (a mix thereof) by January 2009 will enable a seamless fielding and transition by US forces of the weapon system to key Kenyan units bound for border security missions. Weapons fielding and training are essential for building force interoperability and host nation capacity during this time. The Chief of the General Staff of the Kenyan Armed forces personally requested that the US government expedite the initial shipment of the 9,761 M16A4/M4A1 weapons, which they agreed to purchase on 30 June 2008, to arrive by January 2009 to facilitate integration into bilateral training. Modernizing the Kenyan military by training and equipping their army is critical toward the US government's counter terrorism and regional stabilization goals for Eastern Africa. Additionally, the sooner the modernization process begins, the sooner the GOK can move towards full integration into future US and NATO led peacekeeping missions on the Continent. These goals were outlined in last year's 1206 and FMF proposals, for which Kenya has received funding and support from the Department of State and the Department of Defense, respectively. Moving the Kenyan military and ultimately all Kenyan security forces to the M-16 and M-4 platforms has other positive, long- range effects. Adoption of the weapon systems may lead to in- country manufacturing capability with proper licensing agreements in place, which could influence purchasing decisions of neighboring countries. This has the potential to lead to significant US sales over the next 15 years in the region. Also, the US will gain significant leverage against regional black market small arms and 7.62mm ammunition proliferation due to the control of the production of dissimilar ammunition types by the GOK. By reducing easy access to ammunition for the ubiquitous AK-47, there is the potential to reduce internally committed violence and crime. The Kenyans have expressed to us that, as much as they prefer US-manufactured equipment, any significant delay in manufacturing or delivering these items would force them to reconsider subsequent purchases from USG sources. We do not want the Kenyans to re-initiate their tender with other nations to obtain small arms due to perceived delays in the US procurement process. Building the capacity of Kenyan forces to defend their borders is a lynch-pin of the Mission Strategic Plan. The importance of delivering enough weapons to meet the minimum requirements to support operations and bilateral training can not be understated. Addressees are encouraged to forward this memorandum to the appropriate agencies for further action. DAVID T. McNEVIN COL, USA/FAO CHIEF, KUSLO and UNITED STATES DEFENSE REPRESENTATIVE End Text. SLUTZ SUBJECT: Diversion Request for Case KE-B-UAD (Cont.) 15 July 2008 KENYA - UNITED STATES LIAISON OFFICE P.O. BOX 606 VILLAGE MARKET 00621 NAIROBI, KENYA