VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #0545/01 0761322
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171322Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8869
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0466
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 6418
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3202
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3127
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2992
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 5428

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV KE
SUBJECT: KENYA: PROMOTING RECONCILIATION AND PUSHING ON THE 
 
REFORM AGENDA IN NAKURU AND ELDORET 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
¶1. Summary: Promoting reconciliation in the wake of the 
post-election violence and pushing for implementation of the 
reform agenda are inter-related aspects of supporting 
democratic change in Kenya. As part of these efforts, a 
Mission team, headed by the Ambassador, recently visited 
Nakuru and Eldoret in Rift Valley. These places were 
epicenters of the post-election violence.  Almost 40,000 
remain internally displaced as a result of the clashes which 
occurred primarily between Kalenjins and Kikuyus.   This was 
the Ambassador,s seventh visit to Rift Valley over the past 
14 months, and members of the Mission team have visited 
repeatedly to support ongoing U.S. efforts to promote 
reconciliation, to provide humanitarian support, and to 
engage with the population. End summary. 
 
¶2. On February 28, the Ambassador attended the launch of a 
young adult &peace ambassadors8 program sponsored by a 
dynamic U.S. non-governmental organization called the 
Workforce Development Global Alliance (WDGA).  The program 
has trained 500 young people from different ethnic groups to 
serve as peace ambassadors to promote reconciliation and 
conflict resolution within their communities. The Mission 
supported the program.  The local member of parliament (Lee 
Kinyanjui, PNU), government representatives,and community 
leaders attended.  In his remarks, which were covered by the 
media, the Ambassador made the point that all ethnic groups 
in Kenya are inter-dependent, as demonstrated by the fact 
that all have suffered by the negative economic consequences 
of the crisis.  He urged senior leaders to communicate more 
directly with the people, pointing out that Kibaki and Odinga 
have only visited Rift Valley together once since the crisis. 
 He discussed ongoing U.S. support for the internally 
displaced persons, reconciliation, and the reform agenda. 
 
¶3. On March 1 the Ambassador attended a &sports for peace8 
program organized by the international NGO CARE for several 
hundred young people of different ethnic groups.  The 
program, headed by Dr. Auma Obama, has been holding similar 
events in other areas which experienced violence.  In 
addition to participating in the sporting activities, the 
Ambassador met with representatives of 15 community-based 
organizations which helped organize the event.  The 
organizations are run by young people, many of whom were 
directly affected by the post-election violence.  Their 
presentations were encouraging in emphasizing that ethnic 
attitudes among young people are starting to shift based on a 
growing common perception that fundamental change is needed 
in Kenya (i.e. action against the culture of impunity). The 
Ambassador agreed to explore ways in which the Mission can 
support efforts of the community-based organizations. 
 
¶4. The Ambassador met separately with representatives of 20 
organizations receiving support from the Office of Transition 
Initiatives, as part of the Mission,s emergency intervention 
in the wake of the post-election violence.  One participant 
commented that &people are watching and wondering where 
their leaders are taking them.8  Ethnic tensions remain 
alive, they emphasized.  They are carrying out an impressive 
array of reconciliation programs and programs aimed at 
energizing Kenyans to push for implementation of the reform 
agenda.  They enthusiastically welcomed the Ambassador,s 
proposal for sponsorship of a series of town hall meetings 
around the country in order to give the Kenyan people a means 
of speaking out peacefully. 
 
¶5. Finally, the Ambassador and team visited a reconciliation 
project sponsored by the Catholic Bishop of Eldoret.  Bishop 
Korir, a Kalenjin, has made sincere efforts to bridge 
differences between the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities. For 
example, he sheltered thousands of Kikuyus in the cathedral 
grounds during the violence last year.  He is widely 
respected for these efforts, although some Kalenjin 
hardliners in particular have publicly criticized him for 
being, in their view, excessively pro-Kikuyu and therefore a 
traitor to his native community. The Ambassador spoke to 
Kalenjin and Kikuyu youth and elders whom the Bishop has 
organized to build a road between their rural communities 
(with U.S. support through Catholic Relief Services). The 
community expressed appreciation for the road itself, as well 
as for the constructive opportunity its construction 
presented for youth to be positively involved in the 
 
reconciliation process. However, some elders noted the need 
for additional programs that would keep the youth gainfully 
employed in order to reinforce positive relations between the 
communities. The visit was part of continuing Mission efforts 
in Rift Valley focused on reconciliation, humanitarian 
assistance, and implementation of the reform agenda. 
RANNEBERGER