KENYA: JANUARY 16, 2008 STATUS REPORT

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000184 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC KE PGOV PREF SUBJECT: KENYA: JANUARY 16, 2008 STATUS REPORT REF: NAIROBI 148 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. AS OF 01/16 1800 HOURS (NAIROBI TIME): SECURITY SITUATION: HEAVY RAIN AND ODM'S SUCCESS YESTERDAY IN ELECTING ITS CANDIDATES FOR SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT MAY HAVE TAKEN SOME STEAM OUT OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS TODAY. IN NAIROBI, DEMONSTRATORS BEGAN TO MOBILIZE AROUND 1400; POLICE CORDONED OFF ACCESS TO UHURU PARK/CITY CENTER AND PREVENTED DEMONSTRATORS FROM ENTERING THE AREA. GROUPS RANGING FROM 30 TO 300 MARCHING TOWARD CITY CENTER HAVE BEEN DISPERSED BY POLICE AND GSU WITHOUT DAMAGE OR CASUALTY. SKIRMISHES BETWEEN POLICE AND GANGS OF YOUTH (BURNING TIRES ON THE ROAD) NEAR KIBERA WERE DISPERSED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE MAJOR PROBLEM NOW IS TRAFFIC/COMMUTER SNARLS. IN RIFT VALLEY/ELDORET, LARGE AND PEACEFUL CROWD CONVERGED AND MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS. BY 1600 HOURS, CROWDS WERE DISPERSING BACK TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS. POLICE DISPERSED DEMONSTRATORS WITH TEARGAS IN CENTRAL MOMBASA; AS OF 1530, RELATIVE CALM. UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF HOUSE BURNINGS AND ONE DEATH IN KITALE (WESTERN PROVINCE) OVERNIGHT AS KALENJIN AND LUO GANGS CONTINUE TO TARGET KIKUYU RESIDENTS. IN NYANZA/KISUMU, POLICE USED TEAR GAS TO REPULSE LARGE CROWDS; SPORADIC SKIMISHES BETWEEN POLICE AND CROWDS IN PARTS OF KISUMU, AHERO (15 KM FROM KISUMU) AND ALONG THE ROAD TO KAKAMEGA. PRESS REPORTS OF TWO DEATHS AND SEVEN INJURIES AT END OF THE DAY. SHOPS IN DOWNTOWN KISUMU WERE CLOSED; NO LOOTING. CDC PERSONNEL REPORT THAT AS OF 1700 HOURS, CITY IS QUIET. ODM RAILA ODINGA ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE RALLIES WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW AND FRIDAY, SO WE CAN EXPECT MORE TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS, SHOP CLOSURES, AND SKIRMISHES BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE/GSU. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: FORMER SG KOFI ANNAN POSTPONED HIS ARRIVAL FOR HEALTH REASONS. HE IS EXPECTED IN NAIROBI TOMORROW OR FRIDAY. AFTER ELECTING ITS SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER, PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED TODAY, UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION IN MARCH. MISSION PERSONNEL: EMBASSY -- AND CDC AND MRU OFFICES -- IN NAIROBI AND KISUMU WERE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TODAY AND WILL BE TOMORROW. ALL OFFICIAL AMERICANS AND FSN/LES EMPLOYEES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR; AGENCY AND SECTION HEADS HAVE BEEN REMINDED TO NOTIFY AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH TDY VISITORS. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA, CLOSED TODAY, WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW. ROSSLYN ACADEMY WILL BE ON HALF-DAY SCHEDULE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. AMCITS: NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES TO DATE. AMBASSADOR HAS SCHEDULED A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH NON-OFFICIAL AMERICANS FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 18. RANNEBERGER