VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #3100 2111103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301103Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1411
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RULSDMK/DOT WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC

UNCLAS NAIROBI 003100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, AND AF/EPS 
DEPT FOR SCT PHIPPS 
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CONNIE HUNTER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAIR PTER KCRM ECON ETRD KE
SUBJECT: Kenya Will Allow Somalia Flights, But Via Wajir Only 
 
REF: 2006 NAIROBI 4871 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Kenya (GOK) announced that, 
effective August 1, it would end its suspension of flights to/from 
Somalia, but that all flights from Somalia must stop first at Wajir 
Airport for immigration, customs and security processing before 
proceeding to their final Kenyan destination.  Outgoing flights, 
including those carrying miraa (or quat, a mild narcotic), may fly 
directly to Somalia from any place in Kenya, after clearance. 
Clearing incoming flights at Wajir could improve security, but it 
depends on the quality and reliability of the clearance process. 
End summary. 
 
GOK Suspended Somalia Flights in November 2006 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (U) Following the GOK's November 2006 decision to suspend direct 
scheduled flights from Somalia due to concerns about the potential 
threat from elements aligned with the Islamic Courts, the GOK faced 
strong pressure from politically well-connected miraa growers to 
resume cargo flights to Somalia.  However, the cargo planes' use of 
Nairobi's Wilson airport was at odds with the Kenya Civil Aviation 
Administration's (KCAA) efforts to improve security at Wilson.  The 
Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, which is predominantly populated 
by "Somalia Somalis" rather than Kenyan ethnic Somalis, is located 
near Wilson Airport.  The GOK therefore decided to process Somalia 
flights at another airport. 
 
Where's Wajir? 
-------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The GOK selected Wajir, a 2.8 kilometer long concrete 
airstrip on a military base in ethnic Somali-populated Northeastern 
Province, near the Somali border, with no terminal or air traffic 
control (ATC) facilities.  In an unusually fast process, the GOK 
hired a contractor to build a terminal and assigned KCAA, 
Immigration, Customs, and security officers to work there.  There is 
no  computer terminal in Wajir for accessing the watch list, so the 
officers will have to rely on hard copy intelligence lists. 
 
Wajir Scheduled to Open August 1 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On July 24, KCAA announced that Wajir Airport would open on 
August 1, and that all cargo and passenger flights coming from 
Somalia would be required to land at Wajir for security, immigration 
and customs clearance before proceeding to their final destinations 
in Kenya.  Exceptions, presumably for international aid 
organizations and the UN, must be authorized by the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  The KCAA notice specified that cargo flights, 
including those carrying miraa (quat), may not carry passengers, and 
any flight carrying "unauthorized passengers" will be required to 
carry them back to Somalia.  Passenger and cargo flights, including 
miraa, can fly directly to Somalia from any place in Kenya, once 
they are cleared. 
 
¶5. (U) The KCAA notice also stated that airlines can use Wajir for 
all other domestic and foreign service.  A new domestic carrier, 
Flight 540, plans to begin service to Wajir at some point in the 
future.  However, the sparse population and the weak economy of the 
region limit the potential client base. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: The GOK has repeatedly postponed the Wajir opening 
date, and may do so again.  Clearing flights from Somalia at Wajir 
could reduce the security risk at Nairobi's Wilson Airport. 
However, we have some concerns about the quality and reliability of 
Wajir's clearance process, plus the possibility of a malefactor 
taking advantage of the closeness to the border and the emptiness of 
the area to gain access to an aircraft cleared for Nairobi. 
 
RANNEBERGER