KENYA: PM ODINGA UPDATES A/S CARSON; CONCERNED

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 052625

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2014
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV ECON KE
SUBJECT: KENYA: PM ODINGA UPDATES A/S CARSON; CONCERNED
ABOUT PNU APPROACH ON CONSTITUTION

Classified By: AF/E James Knight for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Prime Minister Odinga, in the United States May 19-24
to visit Chicago and Buffalo, called A/S Carson with an
update on developments in Kenya and expressed particular
concern that President Kibaki's PNU group had come out in
favor of a piecemeal approach to constitutional reform. He
said comprehensive constitutional reform was essential or
Kenya would simply be back to square one; the ODM remained
committed to a constitution based on the 2004 Bomas draft.
Odinga indicated there were only three chapters out of 22 in
the Bomas draft that were in any way controversial and ODM
was ready to discuss and negotiate on those points (note: he
did not elaborate on the three chapters). A/S Carson
concurred with the need for a comprehensive approach to
constitutional reform. In response to a query from A/S
Carson about Justice Minister Kilonzo's position on the
constitution, Odinga said the Minister tends to stand on the
fence on most issues, and wryly noted he could eloquently
express several positions on any issue.


2. (C) A/S Carson asked PM Odinga if he thought the time was
ripe for Kofi Annan to return to Kenya to re-engage more
directly on the power sharing accord and associated reforms.
Odinga, indicating he had not been fully frank on this
question when asked during their recent meeting in Nairobi,
said that he thought renewed deep engagement by Kofi Annan
would be helpful. He lamented the fact that governance
issues were taking away from the government's ability to
address pressing economic challenges.


3. (C) In the course of the conversation, PM Odinga also
touched on the Police Reform Commission, for which he held
some hope although he noted it fell under the President's
docket and would need to be given full authority to do its
work. He was pleased that there would be a non-Kenyan
vice-chair of the Commission and that Kofi Annan's team was
helping to identify someone for the position. Odinga was less
sanguine on judicial reform where he saw an ongoing
tug-of-war; the President is calling primarily for more
personnel while he believes widespread structural changes are
needed, including in the way judges are appointed and
confirmed.
CLINTON