Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms Delegation to the U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000073 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KE SUBJECT: Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms Delegation to the U.S. January 18 to 22 REF: 2009 SECRETARY 2; 2009 NAIROBI 1811; 2009 NAIROBI 2287 2009 NAIROBI 2539 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - ENTIRE TEXT. ¶1. This is an action request; please see paragraph 8 for meeting requests. ¶2. Summary: At the invitation of the House Democracy Partnership and with post's support, Kenya's Parliament is sending a delegation of six leaders of the recently-formed Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms (see paragraph 8 for bios) to visit the U.S. from February 8 to 12, 2010. The purpose of the delegation's visit is to consult with policymakers on the reform agenda, develop contacts with key think tank and NGO staff relevant to democratization in Kenya, and to learn how caucuses and issue-based campaigns work within the U.S. political system. Within the State Department, caucus leaders are requesting meetings with the Secretary, Assistant Secretary Carson, and working level officers whose portfolios include Kenya or Somalia. The visit presents an important opportunity to demonstrate U.S. support and strengthen the voice of political leaders who are dedicated to advancing the reform agenda in Kenya. End Summary ¶3. The Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms was founded in October 2009. During Secretary Clinton's visit to Nairobi in August three reform-minded Members of Parliament (MPs) met with the Secretary and Assistant Secretary Carson to push for the formation of an opposition in Parliament. Rather than forming an opposition that would further slow Kenya's legislative process, A/S Carson suggested instead that the MPs consider establishing a "reform caucus" (Ref A). Following the Secretary's visit, the MPs and Post continued to discuss the idea of a reform caucus with influential reformist Parliamentarians (Ref B). In late October at an American Chamber of Commerce hosted breakfast, 17 MPs formally announced the formation of the Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms (Ref C). The caucus was subsequently recognized by the Speaker and now numbers 70 MPs out of 224, including four members of the influential Parliamentary Select Committee. Two of the MPs who met with Secretary Clinton and A/S Carson in August, Danson Mungatana and Boni Khalwale, are members of the delegation (For a list of the delegates and their biographies, please see paragraph 8). ¶4. The Caucus on Reforms has played a key role in advancing Agenda 4 reforms and encouraging compromise on the draft Constitution. The caucus hosted daily luncheons in November to identify common ground on the draft constitution, and won broad consensus for a hybrid system of government. Although the caucus serves a critical role by building connections and consensus between reform MPs, most of its members are backbenchers and the caucus has struggled to mobilize the requisite resources to seriously challenge anti-reform elements in the government (Ref C). ¶5. At the invitation of the House Democracy Partnership and with post's support, Kenya's Parliament is sending a delegation of six leaders of the recently-formed Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms (see paragraph 8 for bios) to visit Washington, DC from February 8 to 12, 2010. ¶6. Within the State Department, caucus leaders are requesting meetings with the Secretary, Assistant Secretary Carson, and working level officers whose portfolios include Kenya or Somalia. In Congress, the MPs have requested meetings with members of relevant foreign relations committees, the House Democracy Partnership, and staffers with expertise in caucusing and issue-based advocacy. Additional meeting requests include USAID officers covering Kenya, Africa staff at the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, the Corporate Council on Africa, and several think tanks. (Note: Specific meeting requests have been sent to the Kenya desk officer by email. End note.) NAIROBI 00000073 002 OF 002 ¶7. The delegates wish to discuss Kenya's progress on the reform agenda while gaining the practical skills needed to build a nascent caucus into a cohesive political movement for reform. The MPs are likely to highlight the need for additional resources to support civic education and media outreach in support of the draft constitution and reform agenda. ¶8. The delegates will be accompanied by political officer Jonathan Howard. Delegates include: Danson Mungatana (Coast Province, NARC-K Party, Caucus for Reforms Whip): Mungatana is the Secretary General of the NARC-Kenya party, and represents Garsen constituency in Coast Province. In April 2009, Mungatana resigned as an Assistant Minister to protest President Kibaki's unilateral appointment of judges to the High Court. He was among the three MPs who met with Secretary Clinton during her visit to Nairobi, and at the formation of the caucus was selected as the whip. Mungatana has been outspoken in the media highlighting government corruption, condemning the exacerbation of ethnic tensions by political leaders, and supporting compromise in the constitutional review process. Boni Khalwale (Western Province, New Ford-Kenya Party): Khalwale rose from poverty to earn a medical degree and establish a successful private practice. In 2002 Khalwale left medicine and was elected to represent Ikolomani constituency in Western Province. As the chair of the Public Accounts Committee responsible for oversight of government expenditures, Khalwale has earned the nickname "the Bullfighter" for his aggressive pursuit of official corruption. Margaret Kamar (Rift Valley Province, Orange Democratic Movement Party): Kamar was elected in 2007 to represent Eldoret East Constituency in Rift Valley Province, which witnessed some of the worst violence during the election crisis. Kamar serves as the secretary of the Caucus on Reforms and is a founding member of the Amani Forum, an association of MPs dedicated to interethnic reconciliation and peacebuilding in the Rift Valley. Olago Aluoch (Nyanza Province, Orange Democratic Movement Party): Olago Aluoch served as a magistrate during the Moi regime; he was arrested and imprisoned for one year following his refusal to jail political dissidents calling for multi-party democracy. In 2007, Aluoch was elected to represent Kisumu Town West constituency in Nyanza Province, and chairs the Tender and Procurement Oversight Committee in Parliament. Aluoch was is a founding member of the Caucus on Reforms and has been a strong voice for moderation and compromise within the ODM party. David Ngugi (Central Province, Party for National Unity/Sisi Kwa Sisi): Ngugi enjoyed a successful business career before his election to represent Kinangop Constituency in Central Province in ¶2007. A member of the Public Accounts and Local Authorities Committees, Ngugi was the primary representative for Central Province in the Caucus on Reforms constitutional debates and is a key advocate for constitutional compromise within the PNU party. Aden Duale (North Eastern Province, Orange Democratic Movement Party): Duale worked as a secondary school teacher and then as Director of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation before being elected to Parliament as representative of Dujis Constituency in North Eastern Province. Duale is Assistant Minister for Livestock, and the National Vice Chairman for Political Affairs in the ODM party. In addition to his active role in the caucus discussions on the constitution, Duale is concerned with promoting stability in Somalia which borders his North Eastern Province. RANNEBERGER