VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #0514 0511256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201256Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4755

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000514 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS, AF/E, AF/EX, CA/OCS/ACS, DS/IP/AF 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT CASC PGOV EAID ECON PHUM PREL KE
SUBJECT: KENYA - FEBRUARY 20 SITREP 
 
REF:  NAIROBI 477 
 
SENSITIVE-BUT-UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR RELEASE OUTSIDE USG CHANNELS. 
 
¶1.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:  On the heels of the Secretary's 
successful visit, which is being reported in septels, the Kofi 
Annan-led negotiations in Nairobi resumed in earnest on February 19. 
 Annan says that the parties are close to a deal on political 
power-sharing and we are optimistic that he is correct.  One good 
sign was the formation of negotiation subcommittees on the 19th. 
These groups have been tasked with reviewing what the parties agreed 
on February 1 would be "phase four" issues, such as constitutional, 
land, and electoral reform.  This may indicate that the negotiators 
feel they are close to an agreement on power-sharing, otherwise such 
preparations would be a pointless exercise. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SECURITY SITUATION: The security situation throughout 
Kenya continues to remain calm, with the same caveat that anxiety 
surrounds the outcome of ongoing talks led by Kofi Annan.  The 
carjacking of a U.S. Mission employee in broad daylight late last 
week - unrelated to the political crisis - served as a reminder that 
Nairobi is critical threat for crime for a reason. 
¶3.  (SBU) U.S. MISSION POSTURE: Eight USDH emergency personnel are 
deployed to the authorized departure area of Kisumu and environs. 
CDC has five USDH in Kisumu, and MRU has two USDH in Kisumu and one 
in Kericho.   Their deployment was approved on Monday by the 
Ambassador.  All emergency personnel currently plan to return to 
Nairobi on Friday.   All Nairobi USG offices are operating normally, 
as are local schools.  In-country travel policy is in effect and all 
personnel and family members are accounted for. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) HUMANITARIAN SITUATION:  A recent USAID Disaster 
Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) assessment trip to 16 
internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Rift Valley Province 
noted that the overall humanitarian response to post-election 
violence is shifting from a focus on providing for immediate needs 
to preparation for a protracted displacement crisis.  U.N. agencies, 
humanitarian NGOs, and the KRCS are consolidating smaller sites into 
larger camps and establishing longer-term health, sanitation, and 
livelihood facilities.  During the trip, the USAID/DART spoke with 
several IDP farmers who reported the total loss of their 2007 maize 
crop and indicated that they do not expect to sow maize seeds by 
mid-March in time for the 2008 harvest.  The next maize planting 
season in Kenya's "breadbasket" region will occur in March 2009, 
with the harvest in late 2009.  It is not known what percentage of 
farmers are now IDPs.  In response to concerns that the upcoming 
long-rains could cause disease outbreaks in IDP camps, USAID/OFDA is 
encouraging all health partners to increase public health 
surveillance activities. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) U.S. CITIZENS:  Amcit wardens in Rift Valley, Nyanza and 
Western provinces all report calm and quiet.  None reported any 
illegal roadblocks and all said that businesses are open and 
operating and that transport is moving normally.  Those schools that 
are not on break are also open; however, the warden in Eldoret noted 
that many students are not returning to several of the universities 
there because of ethnic tensions.  The warden in Naivasha reported 
that some of the large flower farms have set up a tented camp for 
their Luo employees.  She expressed concern that this tented camp is 
not far from a camp of Kikuyu IDPs and that if ongoing negotiations 
do not bear fruit there would be a violent clash between these rival 
camps.  Post updated its Situation Update on February 15.  Post is 
planning another Town Hall meeting for private American citizens on 
February 28. 
 
Rannenberger