VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #2068/01 1320307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120307Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1622

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002068 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AFR/EA FOR JULIA ESCALONA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OTRA AO KE
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR M/OAA GRANTS.GOV 
TEAM 
 
REF:  STATE 070561 
 
¶1.  USAID grants country clearance for the visit of 
M/AAO Grants.gov Team, Alvin Phillip, Sebrina Robinson, 
Steve Fitzgerald, Steve Tashjian, and Hung Vu from o/a 
June 2, 2006 to o/a June 12, 2006 to travel to Kenya to 
provide Grants.gov training.  Country clearance is 
granted subject to the actual security situation at the 
time of proposed travel.  Per reftel, visitors have 
secret clearance (Alvin Phillip, Sebrina Robinson, 
 
SIPDIS 
Steve Fitzgerald, Steve Tashjian) and top secret 
clearance (Hung Vu).  The USAID switchboard number is 
254-20-862-2000 and the after-hours number is 254-20- 
856-2825. Control officer is Tom Ray, work 
International Voice Gateway (IVG) telephone number 8- 
871-2503, home landline phone 254-20-712-4049 and cell 
phone 254-722-204-455. Hotel accommodation has been 
arranged at the Mayfair Hotel/Holiday Inn at a cost of 
U.S. dollars 130 for single rooms and 145 for double 
rooms inclusive of taxes.  The hotel telephone number 
is 254-20-374-0920, and the hotel facsimile number is 
254-20-374-8823.  A driver from Express Travel, the 
Embassy's contracted travel agent, will meet you after 
you exit the baggage claim area.  If you do not see the 
driver, inquire at the Europcar/Express Travel Group 
counter.  Cost for transport is 30 U.S. dollars per 
round trip. 
 
¶2.  ICASS TDY charges:  Each visitor, regardless of 
length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data to pay 
for direct costs of the visit.  Each agency, 
organization or visiting delegation will be charged for 
the actual costs attributed to its visit.  Direct 
charge costs include, but are not limited to:  airport 
transportation, accommodations, American and LES staff 
overtime (for such services as airport expediting, 
control room staffing, cashier services, drivers), long 
distance telephone calls, cell phone rentals and cost 
of actual calls, travel and per diem costs for American 
or LES staff who accompany the TDY employee on field 
travel, rental of vehicles and equipment, gasoline and 
other vehicle maintenance costs, office supplies, cost 
of goods procured, departure tax and other airport 
fees.  Post will not provide service if fiscal data is 
not provided for the direct charges.  For TDYers 
remaining at post over 30 days, there is a charge for 
ICASS support services.  This charge is for the 
following ICASS services:  Basic Package, CLO and 
Health Services.  The charge per month is approximately 
$353.  Agencies will not be billed until the 
accumulated invoice cost for TDY support exceeds $2,500 
for the fiscal year.  If your sponsoring agency is not 
signed up for ICASS services at post, please be 
prepared to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for 
ICASS support services upon arrival.  The agency should 
provide post with a written communication, generated by 
the traveler?s headquarters, that confirms the agency 
will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provides the 
agency ICASS billing code to which the TDY support 
charges should be applied, and authorizes the traveler 
to sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module. 
Where travel is urgent, the TDYer should bring this 
documentation with him/her to ensure there are no 
interruptions in the provision of service.  Post will 
not provide any service to a TDYer staying in excess of 
thirty days without provision of this documentation 
before day 31 of the TDY.  If you have a sponsoring 
agency at post, please request that they fill out a TDY 
introductory memo on your behalf so that it is easier 
to receive the services you need from the embassy's 
ICASS service provider.  The Medical Unit cannot 
provide services without the introductory memo with 
fiscal data. 
 
¶3.  Policy for TDYs of 30 days or more:  Effective 
January 1, 2005, American personnel traveling to post 
on TDY assignments of 30 days or more must have 
completed mandatory personal security training.  The 
four-day course, "Serving Abroad for Families & 
Employees (S.A.F.E.)," is available at FSI, or agencies 
can apply to DS to provide their own equivalent 
security training.  In the country clearance request 
cable, agencies must provide certification that 
training for covered employees will be completed prior 
to travel.  For training schedules at FSI contact the 
Registrar?s Office at 703-302-7143; for the training 
syllabus contact Dr. Patricia Schofield at 703-302- 
¶7267.  For other agency self-certification, contact 
DS/T William Armor at 703-205-2816. 
 
 
¶4.  Security assessment: 
 
- There is currently a travel warning in effect for 
Kenya, which states that the U.S. Government continues 
to receive indications of terrorist threats in the 
region aimed at American and western interests, 
including civil aviation, and that the Kenyan 
government might not be able to prevent such attacks. 
 
- Nairobi is designated a critical threat post for 
transnational terrorism and crime by the Department of 
State.  The RSO is required to brief all TDY visitors 
staying more than one week, as soon as possible after 
their arrival at post. 
 
- There is a high rate of street crime in downtown 
Nairobi, and reports of group attacks and muggings are 
on the rise throughout the country.  Pickpockets and 
thieves carry out "snatch and run" crimes on city 
streets and near crowds.  Visitors have found it safer 
not to carry valuables, but rather to store them in 
hotel safety deposit boxes or safe rooms.  Walking 
alone or at night downtown is not recommended as 
attacks have taken place on public streets and parks. 
The RSO recommends leaving all important documents 
(passports, plane tickets, etc.) in a hotel safe and 
not wearing any jewelry on the street.  In addition, 
visitors should avoid hanging a camera around their 
necks, carrying a protruding wallet, and carrying or 
showing large amounts of money in public. 
 
- While traveling in vehicles, doors should be kept 
locked and windows rolled up.  Carjackings are common 
in Nairobi and diplomatic vehicles and personnel are 
not immune to these attacks by armed thieves.  Highway 
bandits are active on roads leading to the border 
areas. 
 
- The Government of Kenya (and the Mission firearms 
policy) prohibits the importing and carrying of 
firearms except for U.S. law enforcement officers 
engaged in protective security or investigative duties. 
 
¶5.  Climate:  Weather conditions in Nairobi are sunny 
and mild year-round with daily temperatures ranging 
between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  In April and 
May, it rains frequently and daytime temperatures are 
lower.  From June through September, dry, but often 
cloudy, weather persists with cool nights. From October 
through November there is occasional rain, but most 
days are sunny and warm. 
 
¶6.  Health:  Due to the high altitude, Nairobi is not a 
malarial area and malaria prophylaxis is not needed; 
but the risk of malaria outside Nairobi is significant. 
Therefore, if you are planning to travel outside 
Nairobi, particularly to areas below 3,500 feet 
elevation, it is advisable to begin using oral malarial 
medication before arrival and for four weeks following 
departure.  In addition, every effort should be made to 
use insect repellents, proper clothing, and barriers 
which discourage/prevent mosquito bites.  Travelers 
should also carry immunization records with valid 
yellow fever immunization as well as being current with 
other inoculations.  The embassy medical unit advises 
that local tap water is not potable.  Bottled water is 
safe to drink and can be purchased in local hotels, 
restaurants and grocery stores.  Individuals with 
sickle cell trait should carefully consider the 
altitude of this post.  Short-term (TDY) assignments 
carry an added risk because of the lack of time for 
acclimatization.  Dehydration and stress from exercise 
or illness compound the basic risks of high altitude. 
For more information about sickle cell trait, contact 
your health unit or the medical clearances section of 
the Office of Medical Services. 
 
¶7.  Internal travel: 
 
- Due to the dangerous driving conditions in Nairobi 
and in Kenya in general, post policy now prohibits 
TDYers from driving USG or rental vehicles.  If riding 
with others or hiring a driver, note that it is 
inadvisable to travel at night outside well-traveled 
areas due to the lack of lighting, road signs, and 
warning signals on broken down vehicles.  Many drivers 
exercise poor judgment and drive too fast.  Traffic 
accidents are common.  Public ground transportation in 
 
Kenya, particularly after dark, should be avoided for 
safety and security reasons.  Travel via passenger 
train in Kenya is considered unsafe by the RSO, 
particularly during the rainy seasons.  The trains and 
tracks lack routine maintenance and safety checks. 
 
- GSO has contracted with Jim Cab Services to provide 
additional transportation services for the mission.  In 
the absence of special arrangements for use of official 
vehicles, TDYers and visitors will be expected to use 
this service for their transportation requirements. 
Because TDY transportation is reimbursed as part of the 
individual?s travel expenses, TDYers will pay for their 
transportation directly to Jim Cab when the services 
are rendered.  Landline numbers for Jim Cab are 712- 
2565, 712-1205 or 712-0344; cell phone numbers are 
0722-711001, 0722-714246 or 0733-735499. 
 
¶8.  Money matters: 
 
- For better exchange rates, it is recommended that 
money changing/accommodation exchange be undertaken 
through our contracted bank, the Commercial Bank of 
Africa (CBA).  CBA has branches in the US Embassy 
building and the USAID building.  CBA's hours of 
operation are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 12 noon 
and 1 PM to 3 PM; Friday, 9 AM to 12 noon.  For TDYers, 
CBA will cash up to 500 US dollars per day and will 
change cash, traveler?s checks or personal checks.  If 
you are using personal checks, an exchange application 
form must be filled in and approved by the Financial 
Management Officer prior to visiting the bank.  Your 
control officer will provide the form or you may pick 
up a copy in the Financial Management Center.  Certain 
ATM machines in town will accept US ATM and credit 
cards. 
 
- Credit cards are accepted at major hotels and 
restaurants, with VISA and Mastercard being the cards 
of choice. 
 
- The current rate of exchange is approximately 72 
shillings to the US dollar. 
 
¶9.  General: 
 
- AEA Morale Store:  TDY membership in the American 
Employees Association (AEA) is available for five U.S. 
dollars per week or one dollar per day.  The AEA Morale 
Store offers a limited supply of liquor, soda, beer, 
snacks, Embassy souvenirs, and Kenyan crafts.   All 
products are sold in U.S. dollars.  Cash and travelers 
checks are accepted; no personal checks are accepted. 
 
- APO Use:  TDY personnel wishing to use the APO are 
required to present a copy of their TDY/leave orders to 
the APO supervisor.  Military members must also produce 
a valid ID card. 
 
- TDY travelers to Nairobi can be given the option to 
connect to their State Department OpenNet mailbox. 
Please ask your system administrator for the domain 
name and the IP address/name of your organization's 
mail server and confirmation that remote access of your 
mailbox is possible.  Please give our systems office 
advance notice of the need for remote connection by 
sending an e-mail with the above information to 
iscnairobi@state.gov. 
 
¶10.  Entry requirements:  A visa to enter Kenya is 
mandatory.  This applies to U.S. citizens arriving for 
any purpose and regardless of type of passport. 
Travelers may obtain a visa in advance at a Kenyan 
embassy or consulate. Alternatively, a visa can be 
obtained at the airport (for a voucherable charge of 50 
U.S. dollars if traveling on a non-diplomatic passport, 
or gratis if traveling with a diplomatic passport), but 
lines may be long and processing time slow.  Evidence 
of yellow fever immunization is usually requested upon 
entry to Kenya. 
 
¶11.  Departure:  Each person departing Kenya 
(regardless of age or type of passport) must pay a 20 
U.S. dollar departure tax payable in Kenya shillings or 
U.S. dollars, unless it has been included in the price 
of your ticket.  Further, there is 500 Kenya shilling 
(approximate) departure tax imposed on all domestic 
flights. BELLAMY