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DE RUEHNR #2594/01 3191004
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FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
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RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1686

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002594 
 
STATE PASS USTR WILLIAM JACKSON, PATRICK DEAN COLEMAN, AND CONNIE 
HAMILTON 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND AF/EPS ANN BREITER AND GABRIELLE MALLORY 
 
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/BTA AMY HOLMAN 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/EA 
 
TREASURY FOR REBECCA KLEIN 
 
COMMERCE FOR KEVIN BOYD AND BECKY ERKUL 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV KE
SUBJECT: KENYA TO HOST 2009 AGOA FORUM BETWEEN AUGUST 9-14 
 
REFS: (A) STATE 114398 (B) NAIROBI 2224 
 
¶1.  This cable is not/not for internet distribution. 
 
¶2.  Please See Action Request - Para 15. 
 
¶3.  Summary.  Kenya proposes hosting the 2009 AGOA Forum in 
Nairobi, between August 9-14.  The preferred venue is the 
Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in downtown 
Nairobi. Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Trade Uhuru Kenyatta 
has already established a national organizing committee, headed 
by the Trade Ministry's Acting Chief Economist Richard Sindiga. 
As part of an expansive November 11 preparatory meeting with 
emboffs, Kenyatta and his senior staff requested that a US 
Mission officer attend its weekly meetings.  Emboffs, in fact, 
attended the organizing committee's November 13 meeting where 
it was made clear that US Embassy officers would also be part 
of the subcommittees covering all aspects of the Forum's 
organization, including security arrangements.  Kenyatta said 
he would also like to hold monthly meetings with the embassy's 
point person for the 2009 AGOA Forum. Kenyatta asked that the 
USG promote the participation of the American and African private 
sectors to ensure that the forum is a success and not merely 
another talk shop among African ministers. End Summary. 
 
¶4.  As instructed ref A, on November 11, Economic Counselor Eugene 
Young and Management Counselor Michael Hoza met with Kenyan Deputy 
Prime Minister-Minister of Trade Uhuru Kenyatta, Assistant Minister 
of Trade Omino Magara, Acting Chief Economist Richard Sindiga, and 
Senior Economist David Ngarama to inform the Government of Kenya 
(GOK) that the United States welcomes and accepts Kenya's invitation 
to host the 2009 AGOA Forum.  D/PM Kenyatta thanked the USG, 
acknowledged our October 29 diplomatic note indicating the United 
States' acceptance of Kenya's offer to host was "very well 
received," and said his government wants to work closely with 
Washington and the US Mission in the lead up to the event.  He told 
emboffs that Kenya has already formed a national organizing 
committee composed of stakeholders from government, the private 
sector, and civil society.  Headed by the Trade Ministry's Acting 
Chief Economist Richard Sindiga, the national organizing committee 
will hold weekly meetings.  It has already formed various 
sub-committees to deal with specific matters such as the forum's 
theme and agenda, venue, accreditation, finance and procurement, 
accommodations, transport, security, publicity, and 
hospitality/protocol.  Sub-committees for private sector and NGO 
involvement have also been established. 
 
¶5.  Sindiga said the GOK would welcome the presence of an American 
officer on the organizing committee to serve as a liaison.  D/PM 
Kenyatta furthermore recommended that embassy's point person for the 
2009 AGOA Forum (ECON/C Young) to join him for monthly meetings to 
take stock of ongoing preparations.  Kenyatta revealed that he had 
just signed a memorandum on the event, which is to be submitted to 
the Cabinet for approval.  It includes a request for funds.  Once 
the Cabinet approves the memorandum, a mere formality according to 
Kenyatta, the GOK will make a public announcement that it will host 
the 2009 AGOA Forum. 
 
¶6.  Emboffs complimented the Kenyans for moving quickly on forum 
preparations.  ECON/C Young emphasized that this will be the biggest 
U.S.-Africa event in 2009.  Young said there would likely be a USG 
delegation numbering 150, including several Cabinet members.  Should 
the forum be held in August, when the US Congress is in recess, 
several members of Congress might participate.  He told Kenyatta 
that the USG would prefer that the forum take place in late 
July-early August.  Kenyatta responded that the Kenyans initially 
considered holding the forum in mid-July, but said the 
American-suggested timeframe, perhaps the first week of August, 
would be fine.  Sindiga added that the additional time would be a 
benefit and a later date - after the annual budget is presented to 
Parliament on June 14 - would likely ensure that the FY10 budget 
earmarks funding for the forum.  By early August Parliament would be 
in recess, thus allowing MPs to attend. 
 
¶7.  In an email subsequent to the meeting, Sindiga informed MGT/C 
Hoza that Kenya proposes holding the 2009 AGOA Forum within the 
August 9-14 window. 
 
¶8.  With respect to other logistical questions raised by emboffs, 
notably dealing with security and venue, the Kenyans asked that 
embassy officials liaise with the Sub-Committee on Security, chaired 
by the Ministry of Internal Security and the Police Department. 
Sindiga explained that the Trade Ministry would rely on the security 
sub-committee and the police to handle all security matters related 
to forum dignitaries and delegates. 
 
¶9.  The Kenyans said the venue would be the Kenyatta International 
Convention Center (KICC) in downtown Nairobi, convenient to six 
major hotels.  Other venues, among them the Safari Park Hotel and 
the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) compound, D/PM 
Kenyatta averred, would involve more across-town transportation 
hassles and preclude the possibility of holding a trade fair at the 
same location as the conference.  That events were not held at a 
central location in Accra, he pointed out, was a difficulty at the 
2007 AGOA Forum. 
 
¶10.  Kenyatta reiterated emphatically that Kenya is determined to 
make the 2009 affair a tremendous success - one which serves to take 
full advantage of the AGOA trade regime by bringing American and 
African buyers and sellers together.  Kenyatta emphasized that the 
annual gathering should be much more than yet another talkfest among 
African and American government ministers and their staffs.  In his 
opinion, the forum can only be judged a success if there is broad 
private sector participation.  He urged the US Embassy to spread the 
word about the 2009 AGOA Forum to sister embassies in Africa and to 
encourage American and African businesses to send representatives 
and set up trade fair booths.  "It has to be the most successful 
AGOA Forum ever held!" Kenyatta exclaimed. 
 
¶11.  As a way of recruiting broad business participation, ECON/C 
Young and MGT/C Hoza suggested to the Kenyans that they consider 
waiving various customs, duties, and storage charges on goods, 
wares, and equipment to be displayed at the trade fair.  Kenya 
Customs must also be prepared to help expedite clearances so these 
products arrive on time.  They underscored that streamlining the 
process for all participants in the trade fair - not just Americans 
- would help ensure that it is indeed a success.  (Comment: we were 
pleasantly surprised when Sindiga raised this matter at the November 
13 organizing committee meeting, saying that Ministry of Trade 
officials must approach the Finance Ministry, Kenya Revenue 
Authority, and Customs Service to make sure that duty waivers are 
secured well ahead of the forum. End Comment.) 
 
¶12.  At the November 13 national organizing committee meeting, the 
Kenyans estimated the forum would attract 700 delegates from 43 
countries.  They are anticipating each country will send at least 
three ministers.  Sindiga, half in jest, recommended that the 
sub-committees make contingency plans in case several heads of state 
take part, which he predicted would happen "if our son of Kenya, the 
next President of the United States attends."  Early budget figures 
were laid out: the GOK expects the forum will cost a minimum $1M, 
with half that amount covering conference expenses.  Sindiga 
announced that his Ministry of Trade colleagues are working on a 
proposed theme and agenda, which they intend to circulate to the 
resident African embassies and the US Mission within the next week. 
Sindiga and the sub-committee heads, notably the one in charge of 
security, heartily accepted emboffs' request that US Mission 
officers be named to several of the organizing sub-committees. 
 
¶13.  Per ref A request, Embassy Nairobi will submit an estimate of 
USG resources required to ensure a successful 2009 AGOA Forum once 
our MGT and GSO staffs have an opportunity to sit in on 
sub-committee meetings dealing with accreditation, accommodation, 
transportation, and other logistical matters. 
 
¶14.  Contact information for the chief Kenyan POC, Richard Sindiga, 
is as follows: 
 
Richard Sindiga 
Acting Chief Economist 
Ministry of Trade 
P.O. Box 30430-00100 
G.P.O. Nairobi 
Tel.: (254) 20-314-001/5 
Fax:  (254) 20-248-495 
email:rsindiga@trade.go.ke 
 
¶15.  Comment and Action Request:  The GOK has enthusiastically 
embraced the 2009 AGOA Forum.  Their preparation to date is 
encouraging as is their willingness to engage with us from the 
start.  We look forward to early interaction with the Inter-Agency 
Working Group in Washington, perhaps via DVC to kick off our work. 
Action Request:  Please confirm Washington's acceptance of the 
August 9-14 timeframe as soon as possible. 
 
Ranneberger