VZCZCXYZ0012
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #0859/01 1201428
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301428Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9383
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 3207
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 1800
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0529
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0574
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 6519
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0122
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3256
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 5323

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000859 
 
STATE PASS USTR CONNIE HAMILTON, PATRICK DEAN COLEMAN, 
AND WILLIAM JACKSON 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND AF/EPS ANN BREITER, GABRIELLE 
MALLORY, MARY B. JOHNSON, AND TAWANNA DAVIDSON 
 
STATE ALSO FOR AF/EX SYLVIE MARTINEZ AND SONJA WRAY-BROWN 
 
AF/PD FOR CLAUDIA ANYASO AND TIJEN AYBAR 
 
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/BTA AMY HOLMAN 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/EA AND USAID/AFR/SD BRUNO 
CORNELIO AND JEFF MALICK 
 
TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS AND REBECCA KLEIN 
 
COMMERCE FOR KEVIN BOYD, ALICIA ROBINSON, AND BECKY ERKUL 
 
AGRICULTURE FOR DON EVANS AND CATHY MCKINNELL 
 
LABOR FOR SUDHA HALEY AND MAUREEN PETTIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV PREL KE
SUBJECT: AGOA FORUM UPDATE: PROGRESS ON CO-CHAIRS AND 
REGISTRATION/BADGING 
 
REFS: (A) NAIROBI 325 
      (B) NAIROBI 372 
      (C) NAIROBI 421 
      (D) NAIROBI 559 
      (E) NAIROBI 765 
 
¶1.  This cable is not/not for internet distribution. 
 
¶2.  Summary:  During the April 23 AGOA Forum Main 
Preparatory Committee, the Government of Kenya (GOK) 
presented a revised program - provided by the Kenyan 
embassy in Washington - with changes to breakout session 
co-chairs.  The GOK, along with other AGOA-eligible 
countries, has agreed to all USG-proposed African co- 
chairs.  On the final day of the program, the GOK 
combined the ministerial closing and lunch.  The 
Conferencing Sub-committee presented a written 
registration manual with detailed information about the 
badging system.  Econoff said the interagency team does 
not support an exhibition open to the general public. 
RSO - during a separate badging meeting - discouraged 
public access to the trade exhibition and emphasized the 
importance of properly vetting all registrants, 
particularly those who are not invited participants. 
Members of the Kenyan security entities also cautioned 
against opening the exhibition to the public.  End 
summary. 
 
------------------------- 
The GOK Accepts Co-chairs 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  During the April 23 AGOA Forum Main Preparatory 
Committee, Lina Ochieng, Chair of the Technical Sub- 
committee presented a revised program.  The GOK, along 
with other AGOA-eligible countries, has agreed to all 
USG-proposed African co-chairs.  The program - provided 
by the Kenyan embassy in Washington following meetings 
with US officials - includes three modifications to 
African breakout session co-chairs: Kenya now co-chairs 
the Good Governance and Enabling Environment session, 
Mozambique is the lead for the Intellectual Property 
Rights (IPR) session, and Malawi is tasked to co-chair 
the Health session.  On the margins of the full committee 
meeting, the Chair agreed to consider amending the title 
of the governance session to include a reference to 
corruption.  The GOK is working with AGOA-eligible 
embassies in Washington to identify speakers for the 
breakout sessions.  On the final day of the program, the 
GOK combined the ministerial closing and lunch into one 
session from 12:30 - 14:00.  Econoff stated the USG will 
identify a US co-lead for the ministerial closing. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Registration, Badging, and Public Access 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The Conferencing Sub-committee presented a written 
registration manual.  The manual provides details of the 
 
online registration system and additional information 
about the badging system.  The badges will now include 
bar codes, in addition to pictures and color-coding, that 
link individual participants to their registration 
information.  The GOK plans to scan bar codes at every 
screening area, including at the entrance to forum 
sessions, to control registrants' access to the various 
events of the forum.  On the margins of the larger 
meeting, the Chair of the Conferencing Sub-committee said 
the USG will be able to send photos of its delegation 
electronically and collect badges ahead of the forum in 
order to minimize wait time for the US delegation. 
 
¶5.  At a separate April 28 Badging Sub-committee meeting, 
Xerox presented further details of the online 
registration system.  The online system is ready to go 
live once the registration forms are approved by the GOK, 
private sector, and civil society representatives.  The 
system allows for both online and faxed/mailed 
registration and protects data availability and integrity 
through encryption and other security mechanisms.  The 
system is open to both invited guests and the members of 
the public to register for the forum events.  Invited 
participants will be issued a unique identifier to input 
during the registration process.  Those who initiate 
registration without an invitation will be required to 
receive approval from the system before they are allowed 
to complete their registration.  RSO emphasized the 
importance of properly vetting all registrants, 
particularly those who are not invited participants.  RSO 
is concerned that the proposed registration website is 
going to be easily accessible through the World Wide Web. 
RSO stressed that if the GOK plans to move forward this 
way, then it must ensure robust vetting procedures are in 
place.  To that end, the GOK plans to form a committee of 
government, security, private sector and civil society 
representatives to evaluate those who register without 
invitations before approving their registration.  The 
Chair of the Conferencing Sub-committee requested Xerox 
to provide a more comprehensive plan for registration and 
badging from start to finish. 
 
¶6.  Businesses within the complex will remain open during 
the forum events.  The GOK will provide special badges to 
proprietors and their visiting clients will be screened, 
badged, and escorted while they are conducting business 
in the Kenya International Conference Center (KICC).  The 
GOK is also considering whether to allow public access to 
the trade show during the forum events.  The GOK remains 
confident that it can maintain control of public access 
to the trade show but is open to our suggestion that it 
be restricted to registered participants during the 
actual forum events and open to the public during days 
when the forum is not in session.  At the April 28 
badging meeting, RSO discouraged public access to the 
trade exhibition; members of the Kenyan security 
apparatus also cautioned against opening the exhibition 
to the public. 
 
----------------------- 
Private Sector Progress 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  The Private Sector Sub-committee reported that it is 
identifying speakers for its program in collaboration 
with the Corporate Council on Africa and the USAID 
Regional Trade and Competitiveness Hubs.  The Private 
Sector Sub-committee confirmed that it has agreed not to 
add the Public-Private Partnership session to its 
program.  Preparation for the trade exhibition continues 
with 108 booths sold, and exhibition organizers are 
working through the regional trade hubs to mobilize more 
participation from AGOA-eligible countries.  The Sub- 
committee said the purpose of the exhibition is to 
provide an opportunity for medium and large companies to 
showcase products for export to the US and other African 
countries.  However, in an area separate from the main 
exhibition, there will be a smaller show for small 
businesses selling local crafts. 
 
------------ 
GOK Progress 
------------ 
 
¶8.  The Full Committee is waiting for approval of a draft 
invitation by Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya.  The Chair 
of the Technical Sub-committee said April 28 that 
ministry officials expect his approal this week, and the 
GOK will send the invitations to AGOA-eligible countries 
in early May.  Econoff again requested possible dates 
from the GOK for a joint press conference involving Trade 
Minister Kimunya and Ambassador Ranneberger announcing 
the forum.  Unexpectedly, a senior Ministry of Trade 
official announced that East African Trade Ministers - 
during a recent meeting in Kampala - decided to hold an 
EAC investment conference in Nairobi the same week as the 
AGOA Forum.  The five heads of state of the EAC countries 
would attend the conference.  The idea was not well 
received by the Chair of the committee, who said he would 
discuss the security and logistics implications with 
Minister Kimunya.  (Comment:  We are seeking further 
clarification on what exactly was decided by the trade 
ministers and will do our best to de-conflict the events; 
we would welcome the Department doing the same in 
Washington.  End comment.) 
 
Ranneberger