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UNCLAS NAIROBI 000284 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E Driano 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM KE
SUBJECT:  A National Forum Discusses the Reform Process 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. The coalition government sponsored a conference called 
"One Kenya, One Dream: The Kenya We Want" from February 4-6 
as a forum to discuss the issues which surfaced during the 
post-electoral violence, and the coalition's reform agenda 
to address these.  The Ambassador as asked to present a 
keynote speech in which he emphasized the need for 
fundamental change through implementation of the reform 
agenda, including meaningful action against corruption, 
themes echoed throughout the conference.  The Ambassador's 
remarks, along with those of the President, Prime Minister, 
and Vice President were carried live on national television 
(Septel provides text of the Ambassador's remarks). 
¶2. According to the government, findings and 
recommendations from the conference are intended to inform 
implementation of the reform agenda, including the national 
constitutional review process.  While some non-governmental 
groups claimed that the conference was not inclusive, in 
fact a broad range of civil society groups and political 
parties participated, and critics proved unable to organize 
a viable alternative event.  This was only the third time 
in Kenya's 45-year history that such a national government- 
organized forum was held.  End Summary. 
---------------------------- 
The Kenya We Want Conference 
--------------------------- 
¶3. The three-day conference organized by the coalition 
government was held at the national convention center from 
February 4-6.  The importance of the conference was evident 
from the fact that this was only the third time in Kenya's 
history that such a government-organized national forum 
took place.  A similar forum was held in 1962, just before 
independence, and again in 1980 following the death of 
President Kenyatta.  The conference provided a platform to 
discuss ethnic conflict, social cohesion and international 
best practices in resolving conflicts.  Other topical 
issues focused on the roles of youth, security institutions 
and those with disabilities in peace-building.  The 
deliberations were intended to provide frank input on 
national peace and reconciliation efforts currently being 
undertaken, and on the progress and nature of the reform 
agenda being implemented by the coalition government.  The 
conference provided a forum for Kenyans to contribute 
toward the constitutional review process as well as the 
agenda for the planned Truth, Justice and Reconciliation 
Commission.  Lastly, participants provided input with 
respect to Vision 2030, the Kenyan development blueprint 
for the period 2008-2030. 
------------------------- 
Organization and Planning 
------------------------- 
¶4. The conference was organized by an interagency 
secretariat under the Ministry of State for Planning, 
National Development and Vision 2030.  The GOK invited 1500 
individuals from Kenya's 150 districts, as well as 500 
foreign delegates, including envoys, conflict experts, and 
former heads of state.  Our offer to provide assistance for 
the organizing and conduct of the conference was eventually 
declined because the GOK preferred that the conference 
maintain a strong profile as a Kenyan initiative.  The 
conference was notable for its high-level sustained 
participation from the political elite as well as a broad 
range of non-governmental groups and regular Kenyans. 
President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former 
President Daniel Arap Moi, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, 
and the U.S. Ambassador all provided provocative opening 
keynote addresses.  GOK Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and 
Permanent Secretaries prominently featured in all sessions, 
and delegates from across the country were given a chance 
to participate actively, both during the conference and 
through on-line contributions in the run up to the event. 
Discussion was remarkably frank as, for example, when 
senior leaders of the police forces were accused to their 
faces of alleged abuses.  Issues that dominated the debate 
included corruption, tribalism, the constitution, reforms, 
and the bitter legacy of post-election violence. 
---------------- 
Keynote Speakers 
---------------- 
¶5. The keynote speakers opened discussion and set a 
constructive tone by frankly acknowledging Kenyans' 
concerns to bring about fundamental change, and the 
skepticism many share that this will happen.  The 
conference opened with a brief documentary film on Kenya's 
history which, presaging the frank tone of the conference, 
called attention to the abuses of the "Moi regime."  With 
ex-President Moi sitting on the dais with the President, 
Prime Minister, and Vice President, this was remarkable and 
favorably commented upon by many observers. 
¶6. The Ambassador noted that the watershed post-electoral 
crisis had revealed long-simmering underlying grievances 
and stressed that Kenyans must seize the historical 
opportunity to bring about fundamental change.  He 
emphasized the need to end the culture of impunity which 
has plagued Kenya since its independence. "Half measures, 
whether with respect to reforms or to fighting the scourge 
of corruption, would not be credible to Kenya or the 
world," he stated.  The Ambassador recalled the speech 
which then Senator Obama made during his 2006 visit to 
Kenya, which stressed the need to end ethnic politics and 
corruption.  He pointed out that President Obama also 
called attention to the importance of fighting corruption 
in his inaugural address. 
¶7. In a disappointing performance, Prime Minister Odinga, 
who is generally seen as a reformist, failed to tackle the 
tough issues.  Odinga, as did all speakers, condemned 
"negative ethnicity," argued that "diversity is our 
strength," and said "there can be no business as usual," 
but he did not so much as allude to the major problem of 
corruption.  In a surprisingly strong performance, 
President Kibaki said that "we cannot downplay either our 
accomplishments or our problems."  Ordinary Kenyans stopped 
the violence, he said, demonstrating in the process that 
all Kenyan ethnic groups are inter-dependent.  He stressed 
the importance of "full implementation of the reform 
agenda," and extensively cited the U.S. experience in 
support of this.  The history of the U.S. and election of 
President Obama should inspire us, Kibaki stated.  The U.S. 
experience demonstrates how institutions can be transformed 
peacefully from within.  Kenyans, therefore, should not 
lose hope that implementation of the reform agenda will 
result in real change. 
¶8. Former President Moi surprised many with a relatively 
frank speech in which he commented that "Kenya had deviated 
from the goals that informed the freedom struggle," and it 
now cannot feed its citizens due to corruption and 
negligent leadership.  In a rare admission of culpability, 
Moi said that as President he was "driving a bus, only 
later to find out that some of those behind him were 
pickpockets.  Corruption is not a one-man thing.  I was the 
bus driver, but the passengers shared responsibility." 
Vice President Musyoka jumped on Moi's analogy and urged 
the current administration "to stop the bus" and deal with 
the pickpockets.  He said "punish the big fish in the fight 
against graft and end tribalism," and he cautioned the 
government to stop the double talk and take action. 
------------------- 
Other Presentations 
------------------- 
¶9. The theme of the need to end the culture of impunity and 
to bring about greater accountability and transparency in 
government was pervasive.  Addresses by Minister of Justice 
Martha Karua, and Dr. Lumumba, constitutional lawyer and 
former secretary of the Constitution of Kenyan Review 
Commission, provided the foundation for two of the 
conference's most engaging sessions.  Karua, unlike her 
peers, did not downplay criticism of the government's less 
than expeditious implementation the reform agenda and lack 
of effective action against corruption.  In her hard- 
hitting remarks, she spoke candidly about the need for 
electoral and political party reform.  She also challenged 
participants to examine their own role in Kenya's culture 
of impunity, noting that all Kenyans are responsible 
whether by commission or omission.  She called for a 
culture of personal responsibility, remarking that "tribe" 
is too often used as a shield to personal responsibility. 
In asking Kenyans to reexamine their role, she called upon 
the government, including the executive branch, to take 
full responsibility for their failures and to rededicate 
itself to delivering reforms. 
¶10. Lumumba, a gifted orator, addressed the issue of 
ethnicity in Kenya.  Noting that the theme of the Kenyan 
elite is "keep them poor, keep them ignorant, and buy them 
cheap," he called for an end to negative ethnicity via new 
approaches to civic education, decentralization, regional 
integration and, most importantly, leadership.  He 
chastised the government for even having a debate on 
whether ministers should "step aside" to allow for 
investigations of alleged corruption; instead they should 
resign.  "This issue is one of moral responsibility not 
criminal liability," he stated.  Lumumba seemed to capture 
the mood of Kenyans, for his remarks were received with 
rapturous applause and the event's only standing ovation. 
----------------- 
Alternative Forum 
----------------- 
¶11. Some members of civil society who rejected the "Kenya 
We Want Conference" as a meeting of political elites and 
their foreign backers organized a parallel forum dubbed 
"The Peoples' Conference: The Kenya We Do Not Want."  After 
initial indications that the police planned to interfere 
with the conference, the Ambassador and others weighed in 
with the Prime Minister to restrain the police and allow 
for what was planned as a peaceful and democratic 
expression of alternative views.  In the end the conference 
attracted approximately 100 participants, mostly students. 
The speakers largely touched on the same issues echoed 
across town at the "Kenya We Want" conference: ending 
corruption, poverty and hunger, and the need for good 
governance, a new constitution, and accountability.  The 
organizers of the "The Peoples' Conference," led by the 
National Civil Society Congress, drafted and sent a letter 
of petition to Kofi Annan in support of a Special Tribunal 
for Kenya that is free of political interference. 
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Comment 
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¶12. Many speakers cited the election of President Barak 
Obama as providing Kenyans hope, in terms of overcoming 
ethnic prejudice, fulfilling individual potential, and in 
promoting an even stronger US-Kenyan partnership.  In the 
end, the extensive live television and other media coverage 
of the very frank discussions proved skeptics wrong that 
the conference would be a waste of time.  While Kenyans 
clearly seem to know what kind of Kenya they want - with 
consensus on the need to end the culture of impunity and to 
carry out the reform agenda - the discussions will serve to 
keep pressure on the coalition government to achieve 
results.  While the forum clearly provided for free and 
unfettered speech, it remains to be seen how the coalition 
government will incorporate the findings and 
recommendations into a clear and actionable plan to support 
implementation of the reform agenda and to bring about 
fundamental change.  End Comment. 
RANNEBERGER