R 171559Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4278
USMISSION UN ROME 
NSC WASHDC
CJTF HOA
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, MBRENNAN 
DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SANTHONY, CMUTAMBA, DNELSON 
AFR/EA FOR BDUNFORD 
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM 
USUN FOR FSHANKS 
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL KE
 
SUBJECT:  POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA - USAID ASSESSMENT IN 
WESTERN KENYA 
 
REFS:  A) NAIROBI 000125 B) NAIROBI 000077 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1) A recent USAID assessment team found that while relief operations 
in Kenya's ongoing complex emergency are ramping up, several 
challenges exist.  Continued population movements and fluctuating 
numbers and locations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are 
complicating the delivery of emergency relief supplies and critical 
services (REF A).  Many IDPs are seeking refuge in their ancestral 
homelands or with relatives and friends.  While immediate needs are 
starting to be met in larger settlements, smaller sites have 
generally received much less attention and assistance.  Priority 
needs identified include shelter material, water and sanitation 
facilities, and protection initiatives.  In addition, future camp 
planning activities should address fire hazards from densely-settled 
sites, and comprehensive, systematic IDP registration and mapping 
would facilitate the humanitarian response.  USAID staff anticipate 
prolonged humanitarian and economic consequences.  End summary. 
 
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ASSESSMENT FINDINGS 
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2) Between January 10 and January 15, USAID conducted assessments in 
the provinces of Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western to assess priority 
humanitarian needs and inform additional program decisions. 
 
3) Overall, the humanitarian response is in its early stages, but is 
ramping up (REF B).  Initially, churches and other local groups were 
actively involved in assisting IDPs.  Medecins Sans Frontieres 
(MSF), the Government of Kenya (GOK) and the International Committee 
of the Red Cross (ICRC) are working in close coordination with the 
Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to lead rapid response activities. 
District disaster committees have been activated and the UN cluster 
system is developing a comprehensive response plan. 
 
4) Continued population movements and multiple, spontaneous 
settlements are complicating planning and logistics operations of 
the humanitarian response.  The GoK, through the KRCS, is working to 
establish centralized settlements in areas including Nakuru, 
Eldoret, Burnt Forest, and Cherengani to ensure better security and 
easier provision of assistance.  Smaller groups of IDPs, often in 
isolated areas, are receiving intermittent services to date. 
 
5) Many IDPs have sought refuge in public places close to their 
original homes, such as police stations, schools, and church 
compounds, and others are moving in with relatives or friends.  Many 
are still sleeping in the open air.  IDPs, the majority of whom are 
women and children, reported reluctance to return to their homes for 
multiple reasons including continued threats, burnt and destroyed 
homes and property, as well as fears of renewed attacks.  In 
addition, feelings of insecurity are heightened among IDPs who faced 
similar threats following the 1992 and 1997 presidential elections. 
 
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PRIORITY CONCERNS 
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6) Due to the development of spontaneous IDP settlements, several 
challenges are arising.  At present, IDPs require blankets and 
shelter material such as plastic sheeting.  Water quality, storage, 
and access were also raised as problems.  Most sites lack 
appropriate sanitation facilities and infrastructure like water taps 
and lighting.  The GoK is trying to move IDPs to more appropriate 
locations with proper amenities, such as district agricultural 
showgrounds. 
 
7) The sanitation situation is slowly improving as the humanitarian 
response becomes mobilized.  Multiple agencies, including MSF, CARE, 
the UN Children's Fund, and World Vision, are addressing the lack of 
latrines.  However, in some settlements, there are no latrines and 
in others the number of latrines is far below accepted international 
standards.  In one settlement, there was one latrine for 3,000 
people.  While beneficial in the medium-term, efforts to consolidate 
 
IDPs in larger sites are complicating water and sanitation services 
in the near-term. 
 
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ADDITIONAL CONCERNS 
------------------- 
 
8) Health coverage is weak to date but improving as information 
becomes available and partners enhance coordination mechanisms.  The 
Ministry of Health (MOH), MSF, and KRCS are providing mobile health 
clinics.  However, the MOH reports that insecurity or the threat of 
insecurity is making it difficult for people to access health 
facilities and for health staff to go to work. 
 
9) To date there are no reports of widespread disease outbreaks. 
The MOH reported 3 suspected measles cases in Eldoret and is 
planning a measles vaccination campaign for all camps.  Respiratory 
infections and diarrhea are surfacing as common health problems. 
Very few deaths have been reported in camps from health problems 
associated with displacement. 
 
10) IDPs repeatedly expressed concern for getting children back into 
school.  Not only have schools been burned down and teachers 
displaced, but students and teachers do not want to return to 
schools in mixed ethnic areas due to insecurity.  In addition, it is 
not easy for displaced children to register in schools near IDP 
sites and, as a result, many children are not going to school.  Many 
IDPs interviewed said their children's books and school uniforms had 
been burned. 
 
11) Food is reaching the displaced although not always in sufficient 
quantities and regularly.  According to the UN World Food Program 
(WFP), there are sufficient stocks of food commodities in country, 
with WFP supplementing pulses, oils, corn-soya blend and high energy 
biscuits to GoK-donated cereals.  Although WFP is borrowing food 
from its existing operations in Kenya to respond, the UN 
organization says this is not affecting its ongoing programs.  The 
displaced said they do not have the means to cook whole kernel maize 
provided by the GoK nor the firewood to cook it properly and would 
prefer milled maize.  The lack of milk for young children was 
another concern. 
 
12) Beyond the immediate humanitarian impact, the post-election 
crisis has significantly impacted people's income-generating 
activities and resulted in substantial losses.  Burnt fields and 
businesses, un-harvested crops, market disruptions, and looting are 
expected to have long-term consequences.  Even those who are not 
displaced have lost jobs, market opportunities, and employees. 
Medium and long-term assistance will be needed to mitigate the 
economic impact of the ongoing crisis, particularly if the upcoming 
March planting season is missed.  IDPs expressed a desire to restart 
their businesses pending improved security and access to loans. 
 
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USAID RECOMMENDATIONS 
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13) While the GoK and KRCS have been responding well, their capacity 
is overstretched.  USAID recommends that partners support and build 
their capacity.  Priority needs identified include shelter material, 
water and sanitation support, and protection initiatives, 
particularly for smaller IDP locations that have yet to receive 
sufficient assistance.  In addition, to prevent yet further 
disaster, future camp planning activities must address fire hazards 
from densely-settled sites.  Comprehensive and systematic IDP 
registration and mapping would facilitate the humanitarian response. 
 In the area of food, corn-soya blend (CSB) and other 
child-appropriate food should continue to be provided and milled 
maize should be provided where possible. Long-term economic 
livelihood initiatives will be needed for IDPs who have become 
destitute and lack economic safety nets. 
 
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USG RESPONSE 
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14) USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has 
provided an immediate USD 200,000 to KRCS for the purchase and 
E 
 
distribution of emergency relief supplies, including blankets and 
shelter material for communities displaced by the violence.  On 
January 13, OFDA airlifted 350 rolls of plastic sheeting for 2,800 
families, valued at more than USD 173,000 including transport, to 
Eldoret to supplement existing shelter resources.  OFDA is currently 
working to program approximately USD 4.6 million as pledged by 
Ambassador Ranneberger to address health, additional shelter, water, 
sanitation, and hygiene needs, and protection.  The USG is the 
largest donor to WFP in Kenya, and many IDPs are receiving 
USG-donated emergency food relief.  Field staff continue to conduct 
assessments as security allows, and to liaise with UN, international 
relief agencies, and other donors to facilitate humanitarian 
response efforts. 
RANNEBERGER