VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #5171/01 3530935
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190935Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8468
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS NAIROBI 005171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, PM, S/CT 
DEPT PASS TO FAA CORNELIA HUNTER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EWWT EAIR PTER PGOV MASS KE
SUBJECT: Transport Ministry Seeks Cooperation on Somalia 
Piracy, U.S. Seeks Embassy Airspace Security 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  FOR USG USE ONLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kenya Transport Ministry Permanent 
Secretary Ikiara told the DCM December 7 that Kenya seeks 
 
SIPDIS 
an international response to piracy off the Somali coast, 
and may call a meeting of concerned nations to coordinate. 
Ikiara will chair an interagency meeting next week to 
determine any technical issues related to our recent 
request to close the Embassy's airspace as a means to 
minimize the risk of aerial attack.  He warned that 
conditioning continued assistance under the Safe Skies 
program on an Article 98 agreement could result in more 
resentment toward the U.S.  Ikiara welcomed our coastal and 
port security assistance, but asked for equipment to screen 
passengers and vehicles on ferries.   End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) DCM, Naval Attache and Econoff met with Ministry of 
Transport Permanent Secretary (PS) Gerrishon Ikiara, and 
officials from the Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Port 
Authority, the MFA, and the Transport Ministry to discuss 
Somalia coast piracy, Embassy airspace security, port and 
coastal security, and the Safe Skies for Africa (SSFA) 
program. 
 
Somalia Piracy: Kenya Will Seek International Support 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ikiara said Somalia coast piracy is a major 
concern for the GOK.  He welcomed the unanimous support for 
the IMO resolution.  Now that his staff have returned from 
the IMO meeting in London, GOK agencies will decide how to 
best obtain maximum international cooperation and support 
for addressing the problem.  Ikiara claimed that focusing 
international attention had already caused the Somali 
warlords behind the piracy to cut it back.  He opined that 
revenue was the goal of the piracy, but that the warlords 
were finding that scaring away cargo ships was costing more 
than they earned from the ransoms. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ikiara planned to propose to other agencies that 
Kenya host a meeting of concerned countries and 
international organizations to develop a common 
international approach and see what each could do to ensure 
safety of the sea, since Kenya has no capacity to patrol 
waters off Somalia.  He hoped that the U.S. and others 
could provide information to help identify and spot the 
pirates.  DCM said we would attend such a meeting to see if 
there was a way we could help, but stressed the need to 
invite technical experts from other concerned countries. 
She noted that any initiative should not target the Somali 
people, and the need to cooperate with international 
partners in any operations in international waters off 
Somalia.  DCM also noted the sensitivity of Somali 
territorial waters. 
 
¶5. (SBU) DCM also pointed out that the U.S. is not involved 
in the contract the Somali Transitional Federal Government 
(TFG) had allegedly signed with U.S. firm Top Cat Marine, 
to provide coastal patrols.  It also seems unlikely the TFG 
has the financial resources for such a contract.  NavAtt 
noted we have no information on whether the firm can or has 
delivered any products or services.  KPA said it had no 
information on Top Cat, and neither did the Somali maritime 
representative in Nairobi. 
 
Embassy Airspace Security: GOK to Review Request 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6. (SBU) DCM recalled the 2003 plot to attack the Embassy 
with an aircraft and said the continuing threat was the 
basis for the Embassy's request for the GOK to prohibit the 
airspace above our compound to aircraft below 9,000 feet. 
Ikiara acknowledged the KCAA had no objection to the 
proposal and said he had invited agencies including the 
military, Ministry of Internal Security, MFA and 
intelligence agencies to a meeting next week to determine 
if there were any technical issues to address.  He noted 
the potential impact on operations at Moi Air Force Base, 
and the DCM offered to help work out any technical issues. 
 
Port and Coastal Security; Give us More Aid 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) After reviewing our plans to refurbish or provide 
patrol boats for the police for coastal and harbor patrols, 
the DCM noted that our Anti-Terrorism Assistance and Coast 
Guard visitors planned to visit Mombasa and Lamu the 
following week to consult with local officials on the 
International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) program 
 
implementation.  Ikiara welcomed the boats and said it 
should be possible to go forward with the meetings in 
Mombasa.  He acknowledged that a World Bank-funded 
contractor did an assessment of KPA's implementation of 
ISPS, but did not agree to provide a copy of the report. 
Kenya Maritime Authority said it is still in the process of 
training and hiring staff and obtaining the equipment it 
needs, and asked for assistance in equipping its new IMO 
search and rescue center in Mombasa.  Ikiara claimed the 
Kenya Ferry Services carries 7 million passengers/year, and 
that the GOK was concerned about the potential threat to 
these services and passengers.  He would welcome a proposal 
to provide screening equipment that could swiftly check 
people and vehicles for explosives before boarding a ferry. 
 
Safe Skies; Need Article 98 Agreement for Continued Funding 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) DCM reviewed the assistance the U.S. had provided 
under the SSFA program and explained that Congress had 
conditioned funding in FY 05 and FY 06 for such programs on 
the signing of an Article 98 Agreement.  She noted the FAA 
had just informed the Embassy that SSFA programs in Kenya 
would run out of funds soon, and that she wanted the 
Ministry to be aware. Once the new Cabinet was appointed, 
we hoped the GOK would consider signing an Article 98 
agreement.  Ikiara replied that he had not followed the 
Article 98 debate because it was the MFA's responsibility. 
He cautioned that conditioning aid on a particular issue 
could trigger public resentment against tied aid and 
"unreasonable" requests from donors.  He admitted the 
Kenyan media may have created misperceptions of the Article 
98 issue. 
 
Comment 
-------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Ikiara hopes that drawing enough international 
attention and pledges to address piracy off the Horn of 
Africa will make it go away.  If not, the GOK will look to 
the U.S. and other countries to take action because Kenya 
has no capacity to do so, while still respecting Somalia's 
sovereignty.  Ikiara appeared supportive of the request to 
close the Embassy's airspace, but made no commitment. 
Ikiara was taken aback by the linkage of the Article 98 
Agreement to continued funding for SSFA, and it is not 
clear whether he will advocate for signing an Agreement. 
 
Bellamy