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