O 151549Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4199
INFO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 
CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY 4225

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000148 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC KE PGOV PREF
SUBJECT: KENYA:  JANUARY 15, 2008 STATUS REPORT 
 
REF: NAIROBI 126 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (U) AS OF 01/15 1900 HOURS (NAIROBI TIME): 
 
SECURITY:  NATION-WIDE, CALM BUT TENSE. NO INCIDENTS 
REPORTED. POLICE REMAIN DEPLOYED AND ACTIVE, ESPECIALLY IN 
DOWNTOWN NAIROBI AROUND THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING WHERE THE 
NEW PARLIAMENT CONVENED TODAY TO ELECT A SPEAKER AND DEPUTY. 
MAJOR TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS.  ODM HAS CALLED FOR PEACEFUL 
DEMONSTRATIONS IN NAIROBI AND OTHER ODM STRONGHOLDS, BEGINNING 
TOMORROW (JANUARY 16) AND CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY, JANUARY 
¶18. 
 
SPORADIC ROADBLOCKS BY ILLEGAL GANGS CONTINUE TO IMPEDE 
SECURITY 
AND TRAVEL IN RURAL AREAS APPROACHING/LEAVING MAJOR CITIES. 
THESE 
ROADBLOCKS ARE USED TO ELICIT MONEY FOR SAFE PASSAGE AND/OR 
THREATEN KENYANS ON THE BASIS OF ETHNICITY ("ETHNIC 
SCREENING"). TO DATE, NO REPORTS OF AMERICANS BEING STOPPED 
OR THREATENED. AS FAST AS POLICE CLEAR THESE ROADBLOCKS, THEY 
REAPPEAR. 
 
MISSION/RSO CONTINUES TO MONITOR SITUATION CLOSELY, 
PARTICULARLY IN KISUMU (NYANZA PROVINCE) WHERE WE HAVE USG 
EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES. RUMOR IS RIFE IN KISUMU AND KERICHO 
THAT UGANDAN MILITARY HAVE DEPLOYED INTO KENYA, TO SUPPORT 
PRESIDENT KIBAKI AND ASSIST KENYAN POLICE TO KEEP ORDER IN 
WESTERN/LUO AND KALENJIN AREAS. EMBASSY KAMPALA HAS 
MET WITH GOU AND DEBUNKED THIS RUMOR. 
 
USAID/OFDA HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM RETURNED TO NAIROBI 
TODAY, AFTER A 6-DAY ROAD TRIP THRO0UGH WESTERN KENYA. THEY 
HAD NO ROAD INCIDENTS. 
 
PEACE CORPS DID NOT/NOT SEND ITS REGIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY 
OFFICER TO KISUMU TODAY. IN CONSULTATION WITH PC/WASHINGTON, 
PC/NAIROBI HAS DECIDED TO OFFER THE PCVS MOVED FROM WESTERN 
KENAY THE OPTION OF EITHER "INTERRUPTED SERVICE" OR TRANSFER 
TO ANOTHER PC COUNTRY PROGRAM IN AFRICA.  THOSE WHO CHOSE 
"INTERRUPTED SERVICE" WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO KENYA IN 
COMING WEEKS OR MONTHS FOR ASSIGNMENTS ELSEWHERE IN KENYA. 
 
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:  FORMER SG KOFI ANNAN ARRIVES TONIGHT. 
THE AMBASSADOR IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH HIM TOMORROW 
(JANUARY 16) 
MID-DAY.  CURRENT PLAN IS FOR ANNAN TO MEET WITH KIBAKI AND 
RAILA 
SEPARATELY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. 
 
MISSION PERSONNEL:  EMBASSY -- AND CDC AND MRU OFFICES -- IN 
NAIROBI AND KISUMU -- WERE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TODAY.  ALL 
OFFICIAL AMERICANS AND FSN/LES EMPLOYEES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR; 
AGENCY AND SECTION HEADS HAVE BEEN REMINDED TO NOTIFY AND 
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH TDY VISITORS. AMBASSADOR HELD AN ALL 
HANDS TOWN HALL MEETING ON JANUARY 14. 
 
AMCITS:  NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES TO DATE. AMBASSADOR HAS 
SCHEDULED A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH NON-OFFICIAL AMERICANS FOR 
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18. 
 
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF KENYA (ISK) ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT 
WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED TRANSPORATION 
DIFFICULTIES (DUE TO DEMONSTRATIONS) FOR LOCAL STAFF 
(INCLUDING 
BUS DRIVERS).  ISK WILL DECIDE TOMORROW WHETHER OR NOT TO 
OPEN ON THURSDAY. 
 
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: PARLIAMENT CONVENED THIS AFTERNOON TO 
ELECT A SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR 
DEBATING PROCEDURES, THE BALLOTING COMMENCED.  AS OF THE END 
OF THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING, NO CANDIDATE HAD THE NECESSARY 
TWO-THIRDS (148) OF VOTES. (THE SECOND ROUND RESULT WAS: (PNU 
CANDIDATE) KAPARO 102 AND (ODM CANDIDATE) MARENDE 104. AS THIS 
IS BEING WRITTEN, A THIRD ROUND RUNOFF IS BEING CONDUCTED 
BETWEEN THE TWO. ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY IS REQUIRED AT THIS 
STAGE. 
THE SESSION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING UNTIL BOTH 
SPEAKER 
AND DEPUTY ARE ELECTED. PARLIAMENT WILL THEN ADJOURN UNTIL 
MARCH. 
 
RANNEBERGER