THE REFORM PROCESS - OUTREACH TO SENIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000714 DEPT FOR AF/E Driano SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KE SUBJECT: THE REFORM PROCESS - OUTREACH TO SENIOR CATHOLIC CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES ¶1. Summary. As part of continuing outreach to civil society, religious groups, the private sector, and the media, the Ambassador recently met with senior Catholic Church representatives. They emphasized their commitment to help push forward the reform process, and described their efforts to promote reconciliation and civic education. End summary. ¶2. As part of continuing outreach to civil society, religious groups, the private sector, and the media, the Ambassador and members of the Mission team recently met with representatives from the Catholic Church's Episcopal Conference. The Church's Justice and Peace Committee, its charitable arm Caritas, the chair of its inter-religious dialogue committee, the secretary general of the bishops' conference, and the Archbishop of Mombasa participated. ¶3. The Ambassador reviewed the situation in Kenya along lines we have previously reported, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to press the coalition government to implement the reform agenda. He highlighted the particularly important role that religious organizations must play. He recognized the key role the church played as a constructive voice during the crisis last year, and urged the church to work closely with other religious groups to present a common message on the reform agenda. ¶4. The Catholic Church representatives agreed on the important role that churches must play to help drive forward implementation of the reform agenda. They reviewed in detail what the Church is doing to promote national peace reconciliation and reforms. These efforts include the work of the Church's Justice and Peace Committees nationwide; engaging Parliamentarians to urge that they play a responsible role in supporting reforms and tracking their development record in four districts (a formal Parliament outreach program is being launched); tracking the process of constitutional reform; and promoting civic education, among other actions. They noted the importance of enhancing the Witness Protection Act and documenting human rights abuses as a way forward in fighting corruption and impunity. The Church is focused particularly on the need to promote inter-ethnic dialogue by building values to overcome ethnic divide. (We note that the Bishop of Eldoret in Rift Valley, which was the epicenter of violence, has been at the center of reconciliation efforts there.) ¶5. The Church representatives emphasized the need to expand communication programs to ensure that the people are informed about what is happening in the country and to help push forward the reform agenda. While the Catholic newspaper is active, it has a small reach. The Church wants to expand radio programming (Radio Waumini),but has not been given a national frequency by the government (we are weighing in with the government to assist). ¶6. The Church representatives noted four important opportunities to raise the profile of the Church's message on the reform process. First, the Bishops will meet April 21-24 and will issue a message. The Ambassador accepted an invitation from the Church representatives to speak to the Bishops. Second, they will hold a national peace building symposium to track efforts on peace and reconciliation on May 8. Third, the Vatican has summoned African bishops to an African synod in October and Kenya will send 6 delegates. Fourth, thought is being given to getting the Pope to make a statement on Kenya either at the synod or before then. ¶7. We note that though the Cardinal is Kikuyu and is sometimes accused of being pro-Kibaki, the Catholic Church in fact played a positive role in joining with other religious groups and civil society last year to urge political compromise in order to end the crisis. (Just days after the meeting, the Cardinal made a statement calling on Kibaki and Odinga to implement the reform agenda.) The Catholic Church has enormous reach and influence with the Kenyan people. We will continue to engage with the Church - and individual Bishops - as part of our efforts to move forward the reform process. The Ambassador plans to meet the Cardinal, and remains in close touch with the Apostolic Nuncio. RANNEBERGER