KENYA CONSIDERS USG PREFERENCE FOR 2009 AGOA FORUM FORMAT

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000325

STATE PASS USTR CONNIE HAMILTON, PATRICK DEAN COLEMAN, AND WILLIAM
JACKSON

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND AF/EPS ANN BREITER, GABRIELLE MALLORY,
MARY B. JOHNSON, AND TAWANNA DAVIDSON

STATE ALSO FOR AF/EX SYLVIE MARTINEZ AND AF/PD CLAUDIA ANYASO

STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/BTA AMY HOLMAN

STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/EA AND USAID/AFR/SD BRUNO CORNELIO

TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS AND REBECCA KLEIN

COMMERCE FOR KEVIN BOYD, ALICIA ROBINSON, AND BECKY ERKUL

AGRICULTURE FOR DON EVANS AND CATHY MCKINNELL

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV PREL KE
SUBJECT: KENYA CONSIDERS USG PREFERENCE FOR 2009 AGOA FORUM FORMAT

REFS: (A) 02-11-09 AGOA INTERAGENCY TELCON WITH MISSION
KENYA AGOA COMMITTEE
(B) NAIROBI 0177 AND PREVIOUS


1. This cable is not/not for internet distribution.


2. Summary. After informing Kenya's 2009 AGOA Forum preparatory
committee members February 12 that the USG prefers keeping the
forum's standing format, rather than moving private sector events to
the opening day, August 4, ECON/C soothed disappointed feelings
among private sector sub-committee representatives, notably Kenya
Association of Manufacturers (KAM) CEO Betty Maina, by pointing out
that there would be ample opportunities for business people to meet
with USG and African officials at proposed breakfast and lunch
gatherings. The GOK supports the private sector proposal and there
was no conclusion reached about the order of events over the three
days. Visiting State AF/EPS and AF/EX officers emphasized
Washington's concerns that the Kenyan organizers ensure that proper
security measures be in place and that accreditation and badging
procedures provide for appropriate differentiation among principals,
delegates, private and civil society participants, and journalists.
End Summary.


3. At the February 12 meeting of Kenya's 2009 AGOA Forum
preparatory committee, ECON/C announced:

-- that Washington had approved the proposed draft of the joint
press statement; he requested that the Government of Kenya (GOK)
review the statement and, if the GOK has no objections or
amendments, that the two sides coordinate the release of the
statement. He indicated that the release should not go out until
the wbsite is operational.

-- that we would proceed in arranging a joint press conference
involving Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya and US Ambassador Michael
Ranneberger once the joint press release is acceptable to both
parties. (Subsequent to the meeting, the GOK provided its approval
to the joint press statement as approved by Washington agencies.)

-- that the GOK's proposed forum theme, daily format, and agenda had
been submitted to the USG AGOA interagency team for its prompt
consideration and response.

-- that the USG AGOA interagency team had reviewed Kenya's proposal
that the opening day be devoted to private and civil society events,
that the second day be the African Trade Ministers Ministerial, and
that the third day be the U.S.-Africa Ministerial (ref B). ECON/C
informed the preparatory committee that the USG interagency groups
had decided that in order to accommodate the participation of U.S.
principals it would be best to keep the standing format, i.e., on
Wednesday, August 4, the Africans would hold their ministerial the
day before the actual opening of the AGOA Forum on Thursday, August

5. Friday, August 6, would be devoted to private sector and civil
society events and a number of U.S./Africa breakout sessions running
into the third day from day 2 (ref A).

-- that the Department of Commerce and Department of State (AF/PPD)
would be identifying U.S. counterparts to link directly with the
Kenyan private sector lead (Kenya Association of Manufacturers) and
the Kenyan civil society lead (Kenya Civil Society Alliance - we
have asked for written confirmation of this from the GOK).


4. Betty Maina, CEO of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)
and head of the private sector subcommittee, and other private
sector subcommittee members were noticeably dismayed by the USG
decision to keep the old format. Maina said that the private sector
has little opportunity for interaction during the forum with
insufficient opportunity to have input and influence. ECON/C
emphasized there would be several opportunities for private sector
participants to hold talks with American and African government
leaders at the breakfasts and lunches proposed by KAM and the
private sector subcommittee. He also reminded attendees that there
would likely be overlap on day 3 between U.S./Africa breakout
sessions and the private sector/civil society day ensuring more
interaction between business and government. ECON/C added that the
USG is interested in making the entire event as open as possible to
all parties so that there would be further opportunity for
engagement. There was no conclusion at the close of discussions on
this topic with the GOK clearly (although not actively) supporting
the Kenyan private sector position.


5. Joining ECON/C at the February 12 meeting were MGT/C and AF/EX
and AF/EPS TDYers. The Washington visitors emphasized to their
hosts the importance of proper accreditation and badging, as well as
our expectation that adequate security arrangements be in place to
monitor carefully who is admitted to the conference venue. At both
the meeting and a subsequent lunch with three key Kenyan organizers,
they presented the colored badge system used in Washington 2008 to
differentiate among principals, delegates, private and civil society
participants, and journalists. The Kenyans were clearly receptive
to the suggestion that they adopt a similar system.

Ranneberger