VZCZCXRO0392
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #0753/01 1051323
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151323Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9190
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000753 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E Driano 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KE
 
SUBJECT:  The Reform Process - Engaging the National Council of 
Churches 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
¶1. Summary.  As part of the Mission's continuing engagement with 
religious groups, civil society, the private sector, and the media 
in an effort to push implementation of the reform agenda, the 
Ambassador recently met with leaders of the National Council of 
Churches (NCCK).  The NCCK played a very positive role in helping 
resolve the crisis last year, and it is once at the forefront in 
exerting leadership to mobilize support for implementation of the 
reform agenda. At Easter, the NCCK issued a bold statement telling 
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga to behave themselves, to 
put the interests of the nation first, and to carry out promised 
reforms.  The statement told Kenyans they must "demand" that the 
reforms be implemented. We will continue to work closely with the 
NCCK. End summary. 
 
¶2. On April 7 the Ambassador and members of the Mission team met 
with leaders of the National Council of Churches (NCCK) to discuss 
how to coordinate efforts to move the reform process forward.  The 
Ambassador provided his assessment of the situation (as laid out in 
previous messages), focusing on the coalition government's failure 
to address the key issues related to the culture of impunity 
(tackling corruption, accountability for violence, police and 
judicial reform, etc.).  He emphasized the need for civil society, 
religious groups, the private sector, and the media to work in a 
concerted way to press peacefully for implementation of the reform 
agenda to which the coalition government committed itself.  He made 
clear U.S. support for the continued engagement of Kofi Annan. 
 
¶3. The Ambassador and NCCK leaders agreed that it is hard to get 
people to work together (as they did in resolving the crisis last 
year) in the absence of a dramatic, evident crisis.  The sense of 
urgency rapidly dissipated following formation of the coalition 
government.  The NCCK officials indicated that they agreed with the 
Ambassador's assessment and were determined to continue exerting 
leadership to mobilize pressure for reform.  They expressed strong 
appreciation for the role that the U.S. played during the crisis and 
U.S. efforts to press for implementation of reforms - a role that 
they described as vitally important.  The NCCK officials reviewed 
what they have been doing:  pressing coalition leaders privately, 
taking strong public positions on the need to carry out reforms, and 
working at the grassroots to promote reconciliation and civic 
education.  They expressed strong interest in maintaining and 
expanding cooperation with us to push the reform agenda. 
 
¶4. They noted that ethnic divisions, which were somewhat subsumed by 
the united call for a political solution to the crisis last year, 
quickly re-emerged following formation of the coalition government. 
That, and the absence of an immediate crisis, make it difficult to 
pull Kenyans together to deliver a unified message on the reform 
agenda.  Though the NCCK leaders are not optimistic about the 
coalition government - "it's about to break" they said - they 
recognize that it is the only viable option to govern the country at 
this point.  The challenge, they reiterated, is how to galvanize 
Kenyans to press the government to implement the reform agenda. 
They noted, and we agree, that it is difficult to get ordinary 
Kenyans to focus on reform at a time when they are facing a very 
tough economic situation, including serious food shortages. 
 
¶5. The NCCK leaders nevertheless emphasized the need to mobilize 
ordinary Kenyans - as was done in response to the crisis last year - 
to speak out and press for reform. Importantly, the NCCK is working 
throughout Kenya to educate people about the need for reforms and 
"as a force to give people a voice."  It is especially important to 
focus on outreach to young people, they stressed.  Young people 
continue to be manipulated by politicians, but they are hungry for 
new leadership.  Encouraging the emergence of this new leadership is 
an urgent priority, they said.  In that context, they specifically 
praised USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives program in Nyanza 
province (Odinga's base in western Kenya), which is working with the 
NCCK and others to support emerging independent youth organizations 
and leadership.  They urged that this program be expanded 
nationally, either by giving churches a direct role or through close 
coordination with them. In effect, they argued, a national youth 
leadership program is needed.  "Youth need to be given hope and the 
prospect of peaceful action," they stated. 
 
¶6. Mobilizing youth leadership across ethnic lines is crucially 
important, they stressed (see septel on our efforts to engage 
emerging youth leadership).  The ethnic militias which were active 
during the crisis last year - including the Kikuyu "mungiki," the 
Luo "taliban," and Kalenjin militias - have not been dismantled and 
continue to attract unemployed and alienated youth.  The NCCK's 
Healing and Reconciliation Task Force is spearheading these efforts. 
 
 
¶7. On two sensitive issues the NCCK was unapologetic.  First, the 
NCCK has publicly called for new elections because the coalition 
government is not working.  They clarified that this was intended as 
 
NAIROBI 00000753  002 OF 002 
 
 
a "wake up call" to the coalition government, since they realize 
that new elections are not feasible in the immediate future and 
could lead to instability.  Second, they are adamantly opposed to 
the setting up of a local Special Tribunal to investigate and 
prosecute those involved in post-election violence.  Given the 
culture of impunity, they emphasized, such a Tribunal will never 
have the necessary independence to perform credibly. "Impunity is 
the mother of all problems in Kenya," they stressed.  Therefore, 
they want the list of suspects which Annan is holding turned over to 
the International Criminal Court for prosecution.  The NCCK is in 
the process of collecting one million signatures in support of The 
Hague option.  Annan's credibility and influence are being undercut 
by his further extension of the deadline for Kenya to set up the 
Special Tribunal, they maintained. 
 
¶8. One example of the leadership of the NCCK was their full page 
advertisement in all the major papers two weeks ago entitled 
"Kenyans Cry Out for Leadership."  The statement delineated the 
problems facing the nation, from lack of progress on reforms to 
economic challenges, cited lack of leadership by President Kibaki 
and Prime Minister Odinga, and censured the Parliament for greed. 
It concluded:  "Our nation is at a make or break point.  The crisis 
we face is a crisis of leadership cutting across all sectors but 
more so political leadership.  In addition to challenging the 
President and the Prime Minister to rise up and offer the much 
needed leadership, we urge other sector leaders to embrace reform 
and stand to be counted as they speak and agitate for a better 
Kenya." 
 
¶9. On April 12, Easter Sunday, the NCCK published another full page 
statement.  The statement, the boldest yet by the NCCK, said Kenyans 
share responsibility for their "collective failure."  The NCCK 
stated:  "We have not accepted that the leaders we chose have failed 
us dismally, and instead of ejecting them from positions of 
leadership we have shed innocent blood to protect them.  How long 
will it take us to genuinely cry for alternative nationally minded 
and motivated leadership?"  The statement reiterated the NCCK's call 
for "new elections at the earliest possible moment," but recognized 
that the electoral machinery is not yet in place to enable 
elections.  The statement challenged Kenyans "not to be divided by 
political leaders once again."  Instead of serving the people, the 
NCCK stated, political leaders are engaged in "corruption and 
political fights."  It cautioned Kenyans against participation in 
public rallies that the competing coalition partners have called, 
urging Kenyans not to let themselves be manipulated.  Addressing 
politicians, the NCCK told them:  "The blood of Kenyans who died in 
the post election violence is still on your hands and you do not 
seem to mind leading us on a path of further bloodshed."  Addressing 
Kibaki and Odinga, the NCCK stated:  "The way you are leading this 
country lacks vision, and reflects irresponsibility and 
indiscipline.  Public outbursts and studious silence during national 
crises by yourselves is unfitting for national leaders.  This must 
change."  Order your parties to call off planned rallies, the NCCK 
urged them.  The statement concluded that "there is hope, but we 
must determine to play our part by demanding the necessary reforms." 
 
 
¶10. Comment.  The NCCK, along with the Catholic Church, played a 
very positive and important role in resolving the crisis last year. 
Specifically, they helped, along with the rest of civil society, the 
private sector, and the media, to mobilize a concerted message from 
the people to their leaders on the need for a political solution. 
They are once again exerting strong leadership in an effort to 
mobilize pressure for implementation of the reform agenda.  We will 
continue to coordinate closely with them, maintaining our support 
and, where possible, expanding it.  End comment. 
 
RANNEBERGER