The Reform Process - Engaging the National Council of

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000753 DEPT FOR AF/E Driano SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KE SUBJECT: The Reform Process - Engaging the National Council of Churches SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - ENTIRE TEXT. ¶1. Summary. As part of the Mission's continuing engagement with religious groups, civil society, the private sector, and the media in an effort to push implementation of the reform agenda, the Ambassador recently met with leaders of the National Council of Churches (NCCK). The NCCK played a very positive role in helping resolve the crisis last year, and it is once at the forefront in exerting leadership to mobilize support for implementation of the reform agenda. At Easter, the NCCK issued a bold statement telling President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga to behave themselves, to put the interests of the nation first, and to carry out promised reforms. The statement told Kenyans they must "demand" that the reforms be implemented. We will continue to work closely with the NCCK. End summary. ¶2. On April 7 the Ambassador and members of the Mission team met with leaders of the National Council of Churches (NCCK) to discuss how to coordinate efforts to move the reform process forward. The Ambassador provided his assessment of the situation (as laid out in previous messages),focusing on the coalition government's failure to address the key issues related to the culture of impunity (tackling corruption, accountability for violence, police and judicial reform, etc.). He emphasized the need for civil society, religious groups, the private sector, and the media to work in a concerted way to press peacefully for implementation of the reform agenda to which the coalition government committed itself. He made clear U.S. support for the continued engagement of Kofi Annan. ¶3. The Ambassador and NCCK leaders agreed that it is hard to get people to work together (as they did in resolving the crisis last year) in the absence of a dramatic, evident crisis. The sense of urgency rapidly dissipated following formation of the coalition government. The NCCK officials indicated that they agreed with the Ambassador's assessment and were determined to continue exerting leadership to mobilize pressure for reform. They expressed strong appreciation for the role that the U.S. played during the crisis and U.S. efforts to press for implementation of reforms - a role that they described as vitally important. The NCCK officials reviewed what they have been doing: pressing coalition leaders privately, taking strong public positions on the need to carry out reforms, and working at the grassroots to promote reconciliation and civic education. They expressed strong interest in maintaining and expanding cooperation with us to push the reform agenda. ¶4. They noted that ethnic divisions, which were somewhat subsumed by the united call for a political solution to the crisis last year, quickly re-emerged following formation of the coalition government. That, and the absence of an immediate crisis, make it difficult to pull Kenyans together to deliver a unified message on the reform agenda. Though the NCCK leaders are not optimistic about the coalition government - "it's about to break" they said - they recognize that it is the only viable option to govern the country at this point. The challenge, they reiterated, is how to galvanize Kenyans to press the government to implement the reform agenda. They noted, and we agree, that it is difficult to get ordinary Kenyans to focus on reform at a time when they are facing a very tough economic situation, including serious food shortages. ¶5. The NCCK leaders nevertheless emphasized the need to mobilize ordinary Kenyans - as was done in response to the crisis last year - to speak out and press for reform. Importantly, the NCCK is working throughout Kenya to educate people about the need for reforms and "as a force to give people a voice." It is especially important to focus on outreach to young people, they stressed. Young people continue to be manipulated by politicians, but they are hungry for new leadership. Encouraging the emergence of this new leadership is an urgent priority, they said. In that context, they specifically praised USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives program in Nyanza province (Odinga's base in western Kenya),which is working with the NCCK and others to support emerging independent youth organizations and leadership. They urged that this program be expanded nationally, either by giving churches a direct role or through close coordination with them. In effect, they argued, a national youth leadership program is needed. "Youth need to be given hope and the prospect of peaceful action," they stated. ¶6. Mobilizing youth leadership across ethnic lines is crucially important, they stressed (see septel on our efforts to engage emerging youth leadership). The ethnic militias which were active during the crisis last year - including the Kikuyu "mungiki," the Luo "taliban," and Kalenjin militias - have not been dismantled and continue to attract unemployed and alienated youth. The NCCK's Healing and Reconciliation Task Force is spearheading these efforts. ¶7. On two sensitive issues the NCCK was unapologetic. First, the NCCK has publicly called for new elections because the coalition government is not working. They clarified that this was intended as NAIROBI 00000753 002 OF 002 a "wake up call" to the coalition government, since they realize that new elections are not feasible in the immediate future and could lead to instability. Second, they are adamantly opposed to the setting up of a local Special Tribunal to investigate and prosecute those involved in post-election violence. Given the culture of impunity, they emphasized, such a Tribunal will never have the necessary independence to perform credibly. "Impunity is the mother of all problems in Kenya," they stressed. Therefore, they want the list of suspects which Annan is holding turned over to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. The NCCK is in the process of collecting one million signatures in support of The Hague option. Annan's credibility and influence are being undercut by his further extension of the deadline for Kenya to set up the Special Tribunal, they maintained. ¶8. One example of the leadership of the NCCK was their full page advertisement in all the major papers two weeks ago entitled "Kenyans Cry Out for Leadership." The statement delineated the problems facing the nation, from lack of progress on reforms to economic challenges, cited lack of leadership by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga, and censured the Parliament for greed. It concluded: "Our nation is at a make or break point. The crisis we face is a crisis of leadership cutting across all sectors but more so political leadership. In addition to challenging the President and the Prime Minister to rise up and offer the much needed leadership, we urge other sector leaders to embrace reform and stand to be counted as they speak and agitate for a better Kenya." ¶9. On April 12, Easter Sunday, the NCCK published another full page statement. The statement, the boldest yet by the NCCK, said Kenyans share responsibility for their "collective failure." The NCCK stated: "We have not accepted that the leaders we chose have failed us dismally, and instead of ejecting them from positions of leadership we have shed innocent blood to protect them. How long will it take us to genuinely cry for alternative nationally minded and motivated leadership?" The statement reiterated the NCCK's call for "new elections at the earliest possible moment," but recognized that the electoral machinery is not yet in place to enable elections. The statement challenged Kenyans "not to be divided by political leaders once again." Instead of serving the people, the NCCK stated, political leaders are engaged in "corruption and political fights." It cautioned Kenyans against participation in public rallies that the competing coalition partners have called, urging Kenyans not to let themselves be manipulated. Addressing politicians, the NCCK told them: "The blood of Kenyans who died in the post election violence is still on your hands and you do not seem to mind leading us on a path of further bloodshed." Addressing Kibaki and Odinga, the NCCK stated: "The way you are leading this country lacks vision, and reflects irresponsibility and indiscipline. Public outbursts and studious silence during national crises by yourselves is unfitting for national leaders. This must change." Order your parties to call off planned rallies, the NCCK urged them. The statement concluded that "there is hope, but we must determine to play our part by demanding the necessary reforms." ¶10. Comment. The NCCK, along with the Catholic Church, played a very positive and important role in resolving the crisis last year. Specifically, they helped, along with the rest of civil society, the private sector, and the media, to mobilize a concerted message from the people to their leaders on the need for a political solution. They are once again exerting strong leadership in an effort to mobilize pressure for implementation of the reform agenda. We will continue to coordinate closely with them, maintaining our support and, where possible, expanding it. End comment. RANNEBERGER