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