VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #1892/01 2171228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041228Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6688
INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 2081
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0387
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 2120
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 5134

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001892 
 
CODEL 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV, AF/RSA FOR KATHLEEN MOODY, H FOR 
ANDREW MACDERMOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN KE
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CODEL PAYNE (AUGUST 
6-9 AND 11, 2008) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 81708 
 
¶1. Embassy Nairobi grants country clearance and welcomes 
CODEL Payne. 
Country clearance is granted subject to the actual security 
situation at 
the time of proposed travel.  The embassy switchboard number 
is 254-20-363-6000 
and the after-hours number is 254-20-363-6170. Control 
officer is Rachel Meyers, 
work International Voice Gateway (IVG) telephone number 
8-871-6071, cell 
phone 254-727-531-383, email MeyersRL@state.gov.  Hotel 
accommodation 
has been arranged at the Intercontinental hotel at a cost of 
US$199 
inclusive of breakfast and taxes. The hotel telephone number 
is 
254-20-32-00-000, and the hotel facsimile number is 
254-20-32-00-030. 
Ms. Meyers will meet the CODEL on arrival with Embassy motor 
pool 
transport to the hotel. 
 
¶2.  Security assessment: 
 
- There is currently a travel warning in effect for Kenya, 
which 
states that "American Citizens should evaluate their personal 
security in light of continuing terrorist threats and the 
limited 
ability of the Kenyan authorities to detect and deter such 
acts." 
The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of 
terrorist 
threats in the region aimed at American and western interests, 
including civil aviation, and that the Kenyan government 
might not be 
able to prevent such attacks. 
 
- Nairobi is designated a critical threat post for 
transnational 
threat and crime by the Department of State.  The RSO is 
required to 
brief all TDY visitors staying more than two weeks are 
required to 
attend a security briefing by the RSO at the regularly 
scheduled 
security briefing at 9:00 a.m. on Thursdays.  Personnel on 
official 
USG business are required to stay in RSO approved hotels. 
You may 
obtain the list from your sponsoring office. 
 
- Violent crime in Nairobi is sharply rising.  Carjacking, in 
order 
to commit an armed robbery, is the most common form of crime 
in 
Nairobi.  In virtually every instance, carjackers use weapons 
to rob 
and carjack their victims.  Most victims, if they are 
completely 
cooperative, are usually released unharmed, with their 
vehicles. 
However, victims are sometimes tied up and put in the back 
seat or 
trunk of their own car.  Criminals who commit these crimes 
will not 
hesitate to shoot a victim who is the least bit 
uncooperative, or may 
appear to hesitate before complying with their assailant. 
The RSO 
recommends that if confronted with a criminal incident, 
victims 
acquiesce immediately and quietly.  Put your hands where they 
can be 
seen and avert your eyes.  Though this does not guarantee your 
personal safety it is more likely you will survive the 
incident. 
 
- Street crime is particularly bad in downtown Nairobi and 
Uhuru Park 
and mission personnel are strongly urged to avoid the 
downtown area 
after dark.  Throughout the country reports of group attacks 
 
and 
muggings are on the rise.  Pickpockets and thieves carry out 
"snatch 
and run" crimes on city streets and near crowds.  Large public 
functions are particularly vulnerable to rings of organized 
thieves. 
Visitors have found it safer not to carry valuables, but 
rather to 
store them in hotel safety deposit boxes or in room safes. 
The RSO 
recommends leaving all important documents (passports, plane 
tickets, 
etc.) in a hotel safe and not wearing any jewelry on the 
street.  In 
addition, visitors should avoid hanging a camera around their 
necks, 
handbags on the backs of chairs, carrying a protruding 
wallet, and 
carrying or showing large amounts of money in public. 
 
- While traveling in vehicles, doors should be kept locked and 
windows rolled up.  Highway bandits are active on roads 
leading to 
the border areas and some areas in the northeastern portion 
of the 
country require special RSO approval prior to travel. 
 
- The Government of Kenya (and the Mission firearms policy) 
prohibit 
the importing and carrying of firearms except for U.S. law 
enforcement officers engaged in protective security or 
investigative 
duties. 
 
¶3.  Climate:  Weather conditions in Nairobi are sunny and mild 
year-round with daily temperatures ranging between 50 and 80 
degrees 
Fahrenheit.  In April and May, it rains frequently and daytime 
temperatures are lower.  From June through September, dry, 
but often 
cloudy weather persists with cool nights. From October through 
November there is occasional rain, but most days are sunny 
and warm. 
 
¶4.  Health:  Due to the high altitude, Nairobi is not a 
malarial area 
and malaria prophylaxis is not needed; but the risk of malaria 
outside Nairobi is significant.  Therefore, if you are 
planning to 
travel outside Nairobi, particularly to areas below 3,500 feet 
elevation, it is advisable to begin using oral malarial 
medication 
before arrival and for four weeks following departure.  In 
addition, 
every effort should be made to use insect repellents, proper 
clothing, and barriers which discourage/prevent mosquito 
bites. 
Travelers should also carry immunization records with valid 
yellow 
fever immunization as well as being current with other 
inoculations. 
The embassy medical unit advises that local tap water is not 
potable. 
 Bottled water is safe to drink and can be purchased in local 
hotels, 
restaurants and grocery stores.  Individuals with sickle cell 
trait 
should carefully consider the altitude of this post. 
Short-term 
(TDY) assignments carry an added risk because of the lack of 
time for 
acclimatization.  Dehydration and stress from exercise or 
illness 
compound the basic risks of high altitude.  For more 
information 
about sickle cell trait, contact your health unit or the 
medical 
clearances section of the Office of Medical Services. 
 
¶5.  Money matters: 
 
- Credit cards are accepted at major hotels and restaurants, 
with VISA and Mastercard being the cards of choice. 
- The current rate of exchange is approximately 65 shillings 
to the US dollar. 
 
 
¶6.  Entry requirements:  A visa to enter Kenya is mandatory. 
This 
applies to U.S. citizens arriving for any purpose and 
regardless of 
type of passport.  Travelers may obtain a visa in advance at 
a Kenyan 
embassy or consulate. Alternatively, a visa can be obtained 
at the 
airport for a voucherable charge of 50 U.S. dollars, but 
lines may be 
long and processing time slow.  Evidence of yellow fever 
immunization 
is usually requested upon entry to Kenya. 
RANNEBERGER