NAIROBI EAC CONVENED TO DISCUSS AL-SHABAAB IN KENYA

S E C R E T NAIROBI 002626


NOFORN
TERREP

DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, INR, AF/E, CA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: ASEC KE PTER
SUBJECT: NAIROBI EAC CONVENED TO DISCUSS AL-SHABAAB IN KENYA

Classified By: RSO Jeffrey M. Roberts for Reason 1.4 a,b,c,d,e,f,g



1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy Nairobi's Acting Deputy Chief of
Mission (DCM) convened Post's Core Emergency Action Committee
(EAC) on 19 November 2008 to discuss recent events in El Wak,
Kenya and recent reports of alleged al-Shabaab activity in
country and their impact, if any, on Post operations,
facilities, and/or personnel, as well as on private American
Citizens working/residing in Kenya. The EAC agreed that the
Travel Warning for Kenya remains adequate and does not
believe a warning or Warden Message is needed at this time.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) On 19 November 2008, Acting DCM convened a meeting
of Embassy Nairobi's Core EAC, to include the Regional
Security Office (RSO),Regional Affairs Office (RA),Defense
Attach Office (DAO),Somalia Section, Kenya US Liaison
Office (KUSLO),FBI Legal Attach (LegAtt),Consular Section
(Cons),and Political Office to discuss recent events in El
Wak, Kenya and recent reports of alleged al-Shabaab activity
in Kenya.

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El Wak Attacks
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3. (SBU) The EAC reviewed known information regarding the
attack in El Wak discussed in RefTel A wherein clan
affiliated militia members stole Government of Kenya (GoK)
vehicles, went door to door in a hotel stealing from patrons,
and then kidnapped two Italian nuns. While certain reports
state the group was &al-Shabaab,8 evidence of this
affiliation is currently lacking.


4. (S/NF) DRSO advised that during a meeting with the
Commandant of the Kenya Police Service/Anti-Terrorist Police
Unit (KPS/ATPU),the Commandant stated the person arrested in
El Wak in association with this attack continues to change
his story. While at one time he claims affiliation with the
Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabaab, he subsequently
retracts under continued debriefing and continues this cycle
of denial/affirmation. While the Commandant and Kenyan
security services can not completely discount a loose
affiliation with al-Shabaab &proper,8 ranking officials
within the Kenyan police services theorize, and EAC currently
concurs, that the name al-Shabaab is being invoked (hijacked)
by advantageous thugs committing financially lucrative
criminal acts to either lay blame on a larger entity, instill
fear, or both. Regardless, Kenyan security services are
monitoring known al-Shabaab supporters in country and are
certainly heightening their sensitivity to this group.


5. (SBU) The Somalia Unit advised that their contacts have
also &warned8 that criminal and other nefarious acts being
committed by separate and varied groups of clan militias and
thugs using the name al-Shabaab for the aforementioned
reasons.

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Al-Shabaab in Kenya
--------------

6. (S/NF) GRPO stated that while they continue to receive
reports regarding al-Shabaab's intent on conducting alleged
attacks in Ethiopia, no such credible information has
recently emerged regarding their intent for Kenya.
Regardless, GRPO continues to monitor known al-Shabaab
supporters in conjunction with liaison services. DRSO
advised that the Kenyan security services appear to be
increasingly focused on al-Shabaab and their alleged interest
in attacking targets in Kenya, which may result in their
conducting additional operations on the border and, in
particular, the North Eastern Province, as well as closer
monitoring of the Somali-strong Nairobi neighborhood of
Eastleigh.

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Consular
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7. (SBU) Consular Counselor advised that the recently
released Travel Warning for Kenya clearly warns citizens of
the risk of traveling in the North Eastern Province of Kenya
in relation to ongoing inter-clan violence and the kidnapping
of the Italian nuns. Furthermore, the Kenya Travel Warning
also continues to clearly warn traveling Americans of the
possible dangers of multiple threats, to include attacks on
tourist locales and kidnappings.

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Security Posture
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8. (S/NF) The EAC recognizes the abilities and influence of
al-Shabaab; specifically, the limited number of al-Shabaab
personnel who are linked to and supportive of East Africa
al-Qa'ida. The EAC firmly believes that well-known extremists
and myriad armed elements in southern Somalia - to include
advantageous criminals and clan militias claiming membership
to al-Shabaab - will continue to plan against/attack soft
targets in Somalia and that International Non-Governmental
Organizations (INGOs) will remain viable target options. RSO
and GRPO continue to track, investigate, and analyze all
information related to the well-coordinated and executed late
October VBIED attacks in northern Somalia that were likely
conducted by extremists who are linked to a limited number of
East Africa al-Qa,ida members in Somalia. That being said,
the core EAC still questions al-Shabaab's (especially
advantageous clan based militias who are not hardcore
believers in al-Qa'ida's jihadist ideology, yet claim
membership to al-Shabaab) overall ability to conduct
well-planned, high profile mass casualty attacks (i.e. large
scale suicide operations or VBEID attacks) deep in Kenyan
territory. RSO and GRPO remain engaged with their Kenyan
counterparts in addressing possible al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda
personnel, support, and planning in Kenya.


9. (SBU) Post's security posture remains high, as it
continues to be rated Critical for both Terrorism and Crime.


10. (SBU) Points of Contact for this matter is RSO Jeffrey C.
Breed and DRSO Jeffrey M. Roberts.
Regards.


RANNEBERGER