VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #3879/01 2500534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070534Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4122
INFO RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 4822
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1536
RULSDMK/DOT WASHDC
RUEANHA/FAA WASHDC
RUEWMFU/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS NAIROBI 003879 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR DHS/TSA ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAWLEY FROM AMBASSADOR RANNEBERGER 
 
STATE FOR AF, S/CT, AND EB 
DOT FOR OST/CHUNTER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAIR PTER PGOV KE
SUBJECT: Retention of DHS/TSA Kevin Jones in Kenya 
 
Sensitive-but-unclassified.  Not for release outside USG channels. 
 
¶1. (SBU) I understand that TSA's Office of International 
Transportation Security Networking recently turned down a request 
from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Embassy Nairobi for 
TSA to rehire Kevin Jones as a retired annuitant.  The decision, as 
 
SIPDIS 
we understand it, would have Mr. Jones replaced within weeks by a 
series of rotating temporary duty (TDY) personnel.  I am writing to 
ask that you reconsider this decision and agree to allow Mr. Jones 
to continue working in Nairobi as the East Africa Civil Aviation 
Security Advisor, a position fully funded by DOT through the Safe 
Skies for Africa program, until his contract expires in April 2007, 
after which we would request a permanently assigned replacement. 
 
Terrorism Threat is Active 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Fighting the global war on terror is the number one goal of 
the United States Government in Kenya, and  improving Kenya's 
capacity to provide aviation safety and security through DOT's Safe 
Skies for Africa Program (SSFA) is an integral part of our 
counter-terrorism (CT) strategy.  The 1998 and 2002 bombings of the 
Embassy and the Paradise Hotel demonstrate that lives are at stake. 
In 2003, the Embassy announced authorized departure for staff and 
families in response to a credible plot to attack the Embassy with 
an aircraft.  The perpetrators of all three crimes are still at 
large. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Kevin Jones was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in April 2004 
as the East Africa Civil Aviation Security Advisor (EAASA) until 
April 2007.  He has painstakingly developed a trusting and 
productive relationship with the Kenyan aviation community that will 
be very difficult to replace and cannot be maintained through 
rotating TDY assignments to the position.  The relationships built 
during Kevin Jones' tenure start with the pilot community and 
progress through the Office of the President.  He is a member of the 
Kenya National Civil Aviation Security Committee, advocating our 
positions at this body's regular meetings.  Mr. Jones is the point 
person in our efforts to build up the capacity of the Kenya Civil 
Aviation Authority, the Kenya Airports Authority, and other Kenyan 
security agencies to counter terrorist attacks against aviation.  He 
performs this function not only in Kenya, but also in Tanzania and 
Uganda, two other countries in the East Africa region facing 
terrorist threats.  His efforts to enhance institutional capacity in 
all three countries have been impressive, but are still incomplete. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) DHS/TSA and the Office of the Secretary of Transportation 
have provided aviation security technical assistance, equipment, 
training, and consultation services through workshops for 
approximately 250 Kenyan aviation safety and security personnel 
through the SSFA Program.  Mr. Jones is the person on the ground who 
continues to ensure this assistance is effective.  Key officials in 
the region, which is under constant terrorist threat, trust and 
count on his sober counsel in aviation security matters. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Pulling Kevin Jones out of Kenya abruptly and replacing him 
with a series of TDY personnel would risk unravelling the groundwork 
he has laid.  Experience here makes painfully clear that success in 
capacity-building requires trust and personal relationships - and 
these require continuity of personnel.  All concerned members of my 
Country Team believe that a TDY approach simply won't work in this 
situation.  Although Mr. Jones will retire from TSA effective 
September 30, 2006, Embassy Nairobi urges that TSA allow him to 
continue serving in Nairobi as a rehired annuitant through April 
2007, and assign another TSA officer to replace him before he 
departs. 
 
¶6. (SBU) I understand that Mr. Jones's position has not been counted 
on the TSA rolls for the past year and his continuation will have no 
effect on TSA staffing.  TSA is not financially responsible for the 
position, as all funding support, including salary, is provided by 
DOT's SSFA program.  Mr. Jones' status in the Mission would remain 
unchanged after his retirement.  The same would be true for his 
replacement. 
 
¶7. (SBU) I look forward to continuing to work closely with DHS.  The 
TSA position is one of the most important DHS positions in this 
 
SIPDIS 
Mission.  I also want you to know I am prepared to be as flexible as 
possible in approving several new positions that DHS/ICE and DHS/CBP 
are requesting for Embassy Nairobi.  I ask that you revisit the 
decision by TSA's Office of International Transportation Security 
Networking with respect to Mr. Jones on a priority basis.  If you 
need any additional information from this Embassy on this issue, 
please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing 
from you soon. 
RANNEBERGER