10 SEPTEMBER 2008 WALK-IN REPORTS POSSIBLE URANIUM

S E C R E T NAIROBI 002139 NOFORN SIPDIS TERREP DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA, POSTS FOR RSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018 TAGS: ASEC KCRM KE KNNP MNUC PARM PTER SUBJECT: 10 SEPTEMBER 2008 WALK-IN REPORTS POSSIBLE URANIUM INFORMATION Classified By: Acting RSO Jeffrey Roberts for Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On 09 September 2008, at approximately 1215, two individuals visited Embassy Nairobi claiming to have possession of uranium at their residence in Kenya. Reporting Assistant Regional Security Officer (ARSO) concluded that the individual had no information of an imminent threat to U.S. facilities, personnel, or interests. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) DETAILS: On 09 September 2008, ARSO interviewed two walk-ins claiming to have possession of uranium. Subjects provided two Kenyan identification cards and contact phone numbers. Subjects were related by marriage claiming to be brothers-in-law. Subjects claimed that they had possession of "an iron box full of uranium" and wanted to hand it over to the U.S. Embassy. Subjects could not verify how they knew the box contents were uranium, but one Subject said he had health problems because of his exposure to the box contents. Subjects stated that their motivation for providing the information was that they were concerned it would fall into the wrong hands. The Subject that claimed to have the box said that it was previously in the possession of his grandmother in Migori province, passed down from their great, great grandfather. Subject claimed that his grandmother had a Muslim acquaintance who told some Arab friends about the box and its contents. The Arabs apparently took a sample of the material and subsequently returned the sample offering Subject $3 million Kenyan Shillings for the box and its contents. Subject said he moved the box from his grandmother's house in Migori province to his home in Nyanza province (address provided - Box 75, Kendu Bay) out of fear that the Arabs would try to steal the material. ¶3. (S/NF) ARSO told the Subjects that the Embassy does not have the capability to handle uranium and would hypothetically have to inform the Kenyan government to provide assistance; at this point the Subjects urgently asked if the Embassy could provide any financial compensation for the box, without involving the Kenyan authorities. Subject stated he has buried the box in the ground at his residence and said he will provide photos of the materials. ¶4. (S/NF) Subjects were identified as follows: Name: OBILLO, George Ouma Kenyan ID Number: 9181581 Place of Birth: Rachuonyo Date of Birth: 08/22/1966 Phone Number: 07265254487 Name: PANYA, Kennedy Otieno Kenyan ID Number: 20842385 Place of Birth: Nyando Date of Birth: 1978 Phone Number: 0720108611 ¶5. (S/NF) ARSO discussed the interview with GRPO, who will make appropriate database inquiries. ¶6. (SBU) RSO COMMENTS: ARSO assesses the Subjects to be mentally sound, lucid, and coherent, but seriously questions the veracity of their information. The Subjects story is not viable and they are most likely looking only for some type of financial gain. ¶7. (SBU) POC is ARSO Thomas Rhodes and DRSO Jeffrey Roberts. RANNEBERGER