R 141113Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4176
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
NSC WASHDC
CJTF HOA
USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KE
SUBJECT:  A/S FRAZER STATEMENT ON KENYA CRISIS 
 
The following statement by Assistant Secretary Frazer was released 
upon her departure from Nairobi on Friday, 11 January.  This 
statement should be treated as the definitive expression of USG 
policy on the Kenyan crisis as of this date.  It should be widely 
shared with opinion leaders who are concerned with the issues 
discussed in the statement. 
 
Nairobi, January 12, 2008 - The United States strongly supports a 
political resolution to the post-electoral crisis in Kenya.  That 
is why Secretary of State Rice sent me to Kenya. 
 
We favored no side during the electoral contest. We supported 
efforts to carry out transparent and fair elections.  The generally 
peaceful and orderly voting process, and the record voter turnout, 
was a triumph for the Kenyan people, but the serious flaws in the 
vote tallying process damaged the credibility of the process.  At 
that point Kenyan institutions failed the Kenyan people.  During 
intensive rounds of meetings with President Kibaki, Raila Odinga, 
their respective teams, and a wide range of other actors over the 
past week I have emphasized the urgency of achieving a political 
settlement, and I have sought to encourage and facilitate dialogue. 
 
We strongly support the efforts of President Kufuor, Chairman of 
the African Union, to bring the two sides together to facilitate 
a political settlement.  The post-electoral crisis can only be 
resolved through a Kenyan solution.  President Kufuor, the United 
States, and other friends of Kenya can, however, help the two sides 
overcome deep-seated mistrust and enter into a serious dialogue. 
We welcome, in that regard, the willingness of both sides to engage 
with the African Eminent Persons who will soon visit Kenya, led by 
former UNSYG Kofi Annan.  We are also prepared to witness the 
results of any settlement in order to reassure both sides that any 
agreement will actually be implemented. 
 
Although we welcome the fact that both sides have indicated their 
commitment to dialogue and to ending violence, we are deeply 
disappointed that they have not been able to reach agreement on the 
modalities for direct discussions.  In our view, it is imperative 
for President Kibaki and Raila Odinga to sit together directly and 
without preconditions to discuss how to end the post-electoral 
crisis in a way that reflects the will of the Kenyan people.  Both 
should acknowledge serious irregularities in the vote tallying which 
made it impossible to determine with certainty the final result, and 
both must take forthright steps to end violence and ensure respect 
for the rule of law consistent with respect for human rights.  This 
particularly includes restoration of media freedom and freedom of 
peaceful assembly.  We believe the Kenyan people have made clear 
that the way forward must embrace equitable power-sharing, an end 
to violence, reconciliation, and agreement on a specific agenda for 
constitutional and electoral reform. 
 
In the meantime, the United States cannot conduct business as usual 
in Kenya.  The Kenyan people recognize that the post-electoral 
crisis has revealed longstanding problems that must not be ignored. 
As a close friend and partner of Kenya, the United States will 
remain intensively engaged to help encourage resolution of the 
post-electoral crisis.  We are convinced that Kenyans will achieve 
this, and that the country will emerge out of this crisis a stronger 
and more just democratic society 
 
RANNEBERGER