EU Troika Pushes on Kenya Reform

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002598 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KE SW WEU SUBJECT: EU Troika Pushes on Kenya Reform ¶1. Summary: Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation, headed an EU Troika one-day visit to Kenya to push for reform. Carlsson pushed on the need for implementation of the reform agenda, urged greater political will on the part of the government to engage on reforms, called on the Kenyan people to be more active to push for reform, and supported Kofi Annan's efforts to advance reforms in Kenya. The Troika visit reflects somewhat increased EU efforts to press for implementation of reforms. End Summary. ¶2. Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation, headed an EU Troika one-day visit to Kenya to push for reform. She met with President Kibaki, Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, and Minister for Internal Security George Saitoti. Carlsson also met with civil society representatives and others. At a press conference, she urged Kenya's political leaders to recommit to reforms and work together, in particular to achieve consensus on a new constitution. ¶3. In her public and private remarks Carlsson urged Kenya's leaders to fast track reform, end impunity, and cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court (ICC). She expressed concern over the failure of the government to establish a local tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of post-election violence. She said Kenya must cooperate with the ICC, which includes ensuring adequate protection for witnesses. "It is the responsibility of the State to protect them," she said. She said the EU strongly supports Annan's efforts in pushing for implementation of reforms. ¶4. Importantly, her comments reflected an intensification of EU efforts to press for implementation of reforms. She emphasized that reforms must be "implemented urgently," and before the end of ¶2010. The Troika mission took place in the context of increased EU efforts to press on the reform agenda. Recently, the Swedish Ambassador and EC Mission head publicly condemned forces resisting implementation of reforms. They publicly urged the Kenyan people to press for reform and urged civil society to take the lead to foster change. They also stated that the EU would increase financial aid to organizations fighting for change in Kenya and added that "the consensus within the EU was that non-state actors should be facilitated to spur change." RANNEBERGER