O 171605Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4281
INFO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 
CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY 4227

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000197 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC KE PGOV
SUBJECT: KENYA:  JANUARY 17, 2008 
 
REF: A. NAIROBI 190 
 
     ¶B. 184 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  AS OF 01/17 1800 HOURS (NAIROBI TIME): 
 
SECURITY SITUATION:  AROUND 1400 HOURS, SEVERAL ODM 
LEADERS ATTEMPTED TO LEAD A GROUP OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS 
INTO UHURU PARK AND WERE STOPPED BY POLICE, WITH TEAR 
GAS.  THE DEMONSTRATORS RETREATED. LARGE BUT PEACEFUL 
DEMONSTRATIONS IN ELDORET; MOMBASA QUIET; POCKETS OF 
CONFRONTATION IN NAIROBI AND KISUMU, LARGELY BETWEEN 
POLICE AND GANGS OF YOUTH IN THE KIBERA AND MATHARE AREAS 
OF NAIROBI AND THE SUBURBS OF KISUMU, CHARACTERIZED BY 
GROUPS OF YOUNG MEN BURNING TIRES AND ERECTING ROADBLOCKS, 
AND CHALLENGING POLICE. ONE PERSON REPORTED KILLED IN SUCH 
A CONFRONTATION WITH THE POLICE IN KISUMU.  TWO PEOPLE WERE 
REPORTED KILLED BY A MOB IN NAIROBI, BEFORE POLICE COULD 
INTERVENE. 
 
IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH IF THE PROTANGONISTS ARE 
DEMONSTRATORS OR OPPORTUNISTIC CRIMINAL "GANGS." KIBERA 
AND MATHARE ARE AREAS WHERE CRIMINAL GANGS, INCLUDING 
THE INFAMOUS MUNGIKI, ARE ACTIVE; KIBERA HAS BEEN A 
BATTLE GROUND IN THE PAST BETWEEN RESIDENTS/GANGS OF 
DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS AND BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND POLICE. 
WHILE NOT MINIMIZING THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE IN PARTS OF 
NAIROBI, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED THAT FOR MANY YEARS NAIROBI 
HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY VIOLENT CRIME AND IS RATED "CRITICAL" 
THREAT FOR CRIME AND TERRORISM. 
 
THE AMBASSADOR TODAY SENT LETTERS TO THE MINISTERS FOR 
INTERNAL 
SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS EXPRESSING OUR "GRAVE CONCERNS 
WITH THE USE OF UNJUSTIFIED DEADLY FORCE IN RESPONSE TO 
DEMONSTRATIONS," SPECIFICALLY CITING THE VIDEO AIRED BY KTN 
TELEVISION ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 16 THAT SHOWS SECURITY 
FORCES USING DEADLY FORCE AGAINST TWO UNARMED, NON-THREATENING 
DEMONSTRATORS IN KISUMU.  (SEPTEL) 
 
MISSION PERSONNEL:  EMBASSY -- AND CDC AND MRU OFFICES -- IN 
NAIROBI AND KISUMU WERE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TODAY AND WILL BE 
TOMORROW.  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. INTERNATIONAL 
SCHOOL OF KENYA WAS OPEN TODAY AND WILL BE TOMORROW. ROSSLYN 
ACADEMY WILL BE ON HALF-DAY SCHEDULE THROUGH THE END OF THE 
WEEK. 
 
AMCITS:  NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES TO DATE. AMBASSADOR HAS 
SCHEDULED A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH NON-OFFICIAL AMERICANS FOR 
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18. 
 
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:  FORMER SG KOFI ANNAN, WHO POSTPONED 
HIS ARRIVAL FOR HEALTH REASONS, IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN 
NAIROBI TOMORROW, JANUARY 18.  THE TWO MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN 
EMINENT PERSONS MISSION, GRACA MACHEL AND BENJAMIN MKAPA, 
ARRIVED TODAY. 
RANNEBERGER