A/S FRAZER'S SEPT 26 MEETING WITH KENYA FM WETANGULA

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 104949


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KE
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER'S SEPT 26 MEETING WITH KENYA FM WETANGULA

Classified By: A/S Frazer for Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Assistant Secretary Jendayi E. Frazer met
with Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula September 26 on
the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Wetangula requested this meeting to discuss Government of
Kenya (GOK) concerns about the deteriorating situation in
Somalia and urge USG consideration of a Millennium Challenge
Compact (MCC) for Kenya. Wetangula invited A/S Frazer to a
Summit on Somalia to be held in Nairobi October 6-8 and asked
that the USG provide financial support for this summit and a
GOK initiative to train Somali civil forces. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) A/S Frazer meet with FM Wetangula on September 26 on
the margins of UNGA at the Kenyan's request to discuss both
Somalia and ask that Kenya be considered for a Millennium
Challenge Compact (MCC) as described below.

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SOMALIA
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3. (C) Wetangula expressed concern over piracy off the coast
of Somalia and noted shipping costs in the region had
increased thirty percent as a direct result of the threat.
He said the GOK wanted to help train Somalia,s civil force
to help stabilize the region. The GOK had already identified
a college in Kenya that would be used for the training and
was capable of handling 5,000 to 10,000 trainees per year.
He asked for USG assistance to help pay to establish this
training center. He added that in addition to providing
funding for the school itself, it is necessary to ensure
those who are trained receive a reliable salary after
graduation. Without reliable salary payments many graduates
could, upon their return to Somalia, simply leave the civil
force to join a militia.


4. (C) Wetangula noted further concern that the Transitional
Charter establishing the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) in Somalia ended in ten months. He invited A/S Frazer
to a summit-level meeting on Somalia to be held in Nairobi
October 6-8, which would include several regional heads of
state, AU Chairman Kikwete and the TFG. The goal of the
Summit will be to push for an extension to the life of the
Charter and get all parties to honor already existing
agreements. He added that if Somalia becomes &totally
ungovernable8 the GOK might recognize Somaliland and
encourage Puntland independence. He asked that the USG offer
financial assistance to this summit to help pay for travel
and lodging expenses of the TFG while in Nairobi. A/S Frazer
encouraged Wetangula to relay the cost estimates to the US
Ambassador in Nairobi and promised to look into what funding
was available.


5. (C) A/S Frazer agreed with Wetangula,s assessment of the
piracy threat but said it was unlikely the USG would agree to
take on patrol and convoy protection duties because no
countries would accept any pirates arrested by USG forces.
Wetangula said Kenya had already prosecuted Somali pirates
and he would push the GOK to accept and prosecute any pirates
arrested by the USG. Additionally, A/S Frazer said it was
vital that AMISOM get blue-hatted and said African Union (AU)
countries should actively push the Security Council to
authorize a UN peacekeeping mission.

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MCC COMPACT
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6. (SBU) Wetangula asked A/S Frazer for help convincing the
USG to give Kenya a Millennium Challenge Compact. He said
Kenya had received a Threshold Program, but was ranked low
for consideration of a full Compact. A/S Frazer promised to
review Kenya's indicators and noted MCC funds were limited.


RICE