VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #1101/01 1190704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280704Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5607
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/EPS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV PREL KE
SUBJECT: KENYA: AMBASSADOR'S OPEN LETTER TO U.S. BUSINESS AND 
TOURISM COMMUNITIES 
 
¶1.  On April 24, the U.S. Mission disseminated an open letter 
from the Ambassador to the American business community and U.S. 
tourists.  Wide dissemination was achieved by providing the letter 
electronically to the Kenya Tourism Board and to the U.S. Foreign 
Commercial Service's Office of Marketing.  The Ambassador cleared 
the letter with the Assistant Secretary prior to dissemination. 
 
¶2.  The goal in writing the letter was to encourage American 
companies and tourists to take a fresh look at Kenya as a 
potentially rewarding place to visit and do business.  It was 
written based on the strong U.S. interest in the rapid recovery of 
the Kenyan economy following the unrest earlier this year and on 
the belief that revival of the tourism industry, as well as greater 
trade and investment generally, is critical to putting Kenya back on 
the path of rapid and sustainable economic growth and job creation. 
We have already received very positive feedback from U.S.-based 
travel operators who are using this letter to put Kenya back on the 
American tourist map. 
 
¶3.  Text of the Ambassador's open letter follows below: 
 
April 23, 2008 
 
AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICAN TRAVELERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE 
FROM U.S. AMBASSDOR TO KENYA MICHAEL E. RANNEBERGER 
 
Dear Fellow Citizens: 
 
I'm sure many of you have been following recent events in Kenya, 
specifically the crisis triggered by the sharply disputed results of 
elections held in late December.  The resulting problems, including 
significant violence, were covered widely by the international 
media.  This unfortunate chain of events led to a great deal of 
short-term damage to the Kenyan economy, and especially to the 
country's dynamic and world-class tourism industry. 
 
Kenya faces formidable challenges in repairing the damage done by 
January's political crisis, but I can report that there have been 
positive developments that are opening up the economic climate and 
making Kenya once again the perfect locale for business and tourism. 
The country's rival political camps reached a landmark power-sharing 
agreement on February 28, and Parliament acted quickly to codify 
this through a constitutional amendment.  President Kibaki and the 
Honorable Raila Odinga - now prime minister-designate - are working 
closely together to forge this new coalition of parties in a new 
spirit of goodwill and unity.  At the same time, the private sector 
and development partners are committing additional assistance 
to Kenya's economic recovery and development.  The U.S. recently 
pledged an additional $25 million in new assistance to help in the 
reconciliation and reconstruction efforts. 
 
Kenya is re-energized and is once again a country on the move. 
Kenya is a regional distribution center for trade across East 
Africa, home to the largest regional financial industry, and is 
investing aggressively in communications and transportation 
infrastructure.  This is an extraordinarily good moment for those 
with an eye for business opportunities to take a close look at East 
Africa, and at Kenya.   I urge you to look again at Kenya as an 
exciting destination for tourism and for doing business, be it trade 
or investment.   In 2007, a record 102,000 Americans visited Kenya, 
many to enjoy the richness of the country's culture and the majesty 
of it landscapes and unparalleled wildlife.  Others came to look 
for business opportunities or to engage in cultural and academic 
exchanges with Kenyan counterparts. 
 
But the main reason I am writing to invite you to give Kenya another 
look is the great partnership we have created between the U.S. and 
Kenya. During the recent crisis, the Kenyan people demonstrated once 
again their resolute commitment to representative democracy by 
exerting pressure on the polarized political leadership to achieve 
an accord.  The U.S. strongly supported the Kenyan people to bring 
this about.  As a result, U.S. stock in Kenya has never been higher 
(polls over the last year showed an 85 percent approval rating even 
before U.S. efforts during the crisis).  Our friendship is based on 
the reality of the huge partnership between the United States and 
Kenya.  On the one side, about $2 billion flows to Kenya annually 
from all sources in the U.S. (U.S. Government assistance, 
remittances, foundations and NGOs, trade, private sector investment, 
and tourism), while the U.S. mission here is the largest in 
sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting the importance of the bilateral 
relationship (and Kenya's importance as an anchor of stability in 
this crucial region).  On the other side, the United States hosts 
the largest Kenyan Diaspora anywhere in the world, and more Kenyan 
students than from any other sub-Saharan African country. 
 
I urge you to read the U.S. State Department's Travel Warning for 
Kenya, available at www.state.gov.  It is in place due to ongoing 
 
problems of crime and terrorism in Kenya that pre-date January's 
civil unrest.  It does not recommend against travel to Kenya.  It is 
similar to travel warnings issued for several dozen other countries, 
many of which are also close friends of the U.S. 
 
I hope you'll consider visiting Kenya as a tourist or businessperson 
in 2008.  The country is very much back in business and this is an 
exciting time to be here.  There is a tangible spirit of renewed 
hope and opportunity.  You'll find Kenyans to be welcoming and warm. 
I hope to see you here soon!  I assure you that we will do our 
utmost to provide appropriate support and assistance for your 
engagement in Kenya.  Karibu Kenya! 
 
End letter text. 
RANNEBERGER