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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NAIROBI 002521 
 
C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y - REMOVED ZEN MARKINGS 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR AF, S/CT, ISN/CPI ??? WUCHTE, NEA/ELA, NEA/MAG 
ALGIERS FOR WAZIR 
BAMAKO FOR NOYES 
BRAZZAVILLE FOR CRAM 
CAIRO FOR GAYLE 
DAKAR FOR LOGAN 
DAR ES SALAAM FOR HUTCHISON 
DHS FOR CBP OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
CBP/INA FOR JEFFERS 
DTRA FOR DUKLIS 
GENEVA FOR BWC 
JOINT STAFF FOR USAFRICOM 
KAMPALA FOR OLSON 
OUGADOUGOU FOR GOURDE 
RABAT FOR NAIR 
TUNIS FOR MCCARY 
YAOUNDE FOR TRICKNOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KPAO PREL PTER UNSC XA KE
SUBJECT: PREPARATIONS FOR AFRICA REGIONAL UNSCR 1540 WORKSHOP ON 
BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY 
 
REF: STATE 96413 
 
¶1. This is an action message.  Please see paras. 14 and 15. 
 
¶2. Summary:  Officials from the Department of State's Bureau of 
International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) and Sandia 
National Laboratories (SNL) visited Nairobi November 16-19 to 
perform a site survey in preparation for the Africa Regional 
Workshop on Biosafety and Biosecurity.  Embassy officers and 
visitors ensured GoK buy-in, identified Kenyan participants, 
reviewed entry requirements for non-Kenyan participants, inspected 
proposed workshop venues, ensured suitability of proposed 
microbiology laboratories, and discussed logistical arrangements. 
The Director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) Global Disease Detection Laboratory offered to assist 
workshop organizers in identifying potential workshop participants 
from across Africa.  Embassy recommends all laboratories described 
below for workshop tours.  End Summary. 
 
------------ 
INTRODUCTION 
------------ 
 
¶3.  In 2004 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 
1540, obliging all Member States to develop and enforce measures 
against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), 
including biological weapons.  The United States views 
implementation of UNSCR 1540 as a vital element in our efforts to 
keep WMD out of the hands of terrorists.  The United States 
supports implementation effort worldwide through a variety of 
mechanisms, including relevant workshops and outreach.  Embassy 
Nairobi is pleased to support the Kenyan Government (GoK) as it 
hosts the next UNSCR-1540 workshop, to be held in Nairobi February 
2-4, 2010 (reftel). 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
¶4.  The workshop's objective is to promote capacity-building to 
advance implementation of measures to prevent the proliferation of 
biological weapons-related materials to non-state actors.  The 
workshop is to be hosted by the Government of Kenya with support 
and funding from the United States and in cooperation with the 
Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 1540 and the UN Office for 
Disarmament Affairs.  The workshop will be tailored to help FULFILL 
the unique challenges of African states as they work to meet their 
obligations under UNSCR 1540 in the biological area.  Participants 
will focus on mitigation of the bioterrorism threat, pathogen 
 
NAIROBI 00002521  002 OF 005 
 
 
security measures, and other measures related to accounting, 
securing and physical protection of related biological materials. 
The workshop program will include direct observation of pathogen 
security and other biosafety and biosecurity measures during site 
visits to several prominent laboratories in Nairobi. 
 
¶5.  The workshop will encourage experience-sharing among the 
participating States and identification of specific 
capacity-building measures responsive to regional and national 
requirements suitable for participating African states.  The 
workshop will also offer an opportunity for participants to 
identify specific regional and international sources of assistance, 
in particular using the Technical Assistance Template of the 1540 
Committee.  Participating African states are requested to each 
consider sending three representatives to the workshop.  Officials 
and experts with broad policy responsibility for laboratory and 
pathogen security will find this workshop particularly useful. 
 
------------- 
KENYAN BUY-IN 
------------- 
 
¶6.  On November 18, ISN Special Assistant David Maness and SNL 
Principal Member of Laboratory Staff Louis Griego met with 
Ambassador Binsai Chepsongol, Director of Americas Affairs at the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss implementation of UN 
Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as the importance of the 
upcoming workshop and Kenya's role as host.  Ambassador Chepsongol 
expressed the GoK's enthusiasm for this initiative, and undertook 
to organize an inter-ministerial committee to oversee workshop 
preparations, with its first meeting to take place at the MFA 
November 24.  It is clear that the GoK wishes to take ownership of 
the workshop.  Ambassador Chepsongol also expressed appreciation 
for the U.S.-Kenyan cooperation in this effort as beneficial for 
bilateral relations. 
 
¶7.  Subsequent meetings with GoK officials in other offices, 
including the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the 
Ministry of Livestock Development, also confirmed host government 
buy-in.  The visitors briefed the local officials on the larger 
background of UNSCR 1540 as well as its specific applications 
within the African context, around which the workshop will be 
organized. 
 
¶8.  Ambassador Chepsongol assured the visitors that with adequate 
preparation, including timely submission of biodata and 
itineraries, the workshop participants can on arrival in Kenya be 
quickly cleared through immigrations and customs and directed to 
ground transportation.  Embassy Nairobi's GSO staff will work with 
 
NAIROBI 00002521  003 OF 005 
 
 
GoK officials to ensure smooth arrival of the approximately 70 
African presenters and participants expected.  The Nairobi RSO has 
also offered to provide a safety and security briefing for American 
guests.  Travelers from the following African countries do not 
normally require Kenyan visas for visits less than 30 days: 
Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. 
Travelers from Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria will require 
Kenyan visas before traveling.  Participants from the following 
countries may elect to apply for visas upon arrival, although Post 
recommends that they obtain visas at the nearest Kenyan Embassy 
prior to traveling: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo-Brazzaville, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Gabon, 
Tunisia, and the United States. 
 
----------------------- 
LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS 
----------------------- 
 
¶9.  Proposed facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi 
(UNON) are modern, secure, and highly suitable for the workshop's 
objectives.  Located across the street from Embassy Nairobi UNON 
regularly hosts international conferences.  Ms. Elizabeth Mutua of 
the UNON Meetings Coordination Section demonstrated UNON's ability 
to provide audiovisual support and interpretation services, plenary 
and bilateral meeting seating arrangements, secretarial assistance, 
banners, and nametags. 
 
¶10.  Workshop delegates can be lodged at the Tribe Hotel, 
www.africanpridehotels.com/tribe.  Hotel managers agreed to provide 
60 rooms at a nightly rate of USD 195 each, significantly below the 
maximum USG lodging per diem for Nairobi of USD 260.  The hotel 
will also reserve 12 additional rooms at USD 215 per night.  The 
Tribe dining room seats 64.  The hotel is newly constructed, 
provides adequate communication facilities, and is within a 
five-minute drive of UNON.  Embassy Nairobi can contract for two 
buses to move participants to and from the hotel, UNON, and 
laboratories.  Participants can receive per diem either through one 
of three commercial money transfer services available at the 
Village Market shopping center, located adjacent to the Tribe 
Hotel, or through the Embassy's contracted financial institution, 
the Commercial Bank of Africa.  Post recommends the latter. 
 
----------------- 
LABORATORY VISITS 
----------------- 
 
¶11.  On November 19, the visitors met with leaders of the Kenya 
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), who are enthusiastic to 
showcase their institution to workshop participants.  KEMRI is a 
 
NAIROBI 00002521  004 OF 005 
 
 
state corporation offering microbiology laboratory services, 
disease surveillance, and graduate education.  More information is 
available at www.kemri.org.  KEMRI collaborates closely with the 
CDC, which maintains a laboratory on the KEMRI compound.  Other 
organizations on the compound include the U.S. Navy Medical 
Research Laboratory, Japan's International Cooperation Agency, and 
the Wellcome Trust.  KEMRI Acting Director Dr. Solomon Mpoke is 
participating in the inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the 
workshop and is willing to help identify appropriate workshop 
participants from across Africa. 
 
¶12.  The advance team also toured the International Livestock 
Research Institute (ILRI) and the GoK's Central Veterinary 
Laboratories.  The ILRI is a state-of-the-art campus visible at 
www.ilri.org.  ILRI leaders conduct international biosafety and 
biosecurity education for Africans on a regular basis and are 
amenable to playing a major part in the workshop.  Facilities 
Upgrade Project Manager Ash Randev, a Canadian citizen resident in 
Nairobi, is eager to demonstrate the laboratories' ability to 
participate in continent-wide capacity building.  The nearby 
Central Veterinary Laboratories, a component of the Ministry of 
Livestock Development, is an approachable, practical worksite. 
Deputy Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Joseph Mwangi Macharia 
is willing and able to demonstrate best practices in a manner 
appropriate to each participant country's level of development. 
 
¶13.  Embassy recommends KEMRI, the CDC's Global Disease Detection 
Laboratory, ILRI, and the Central Veterinary Laboratories for 
workshop tours.  Each of these facilities handles materials related 
to potential biological weapons on a regular basis and all 
demonstrate particular strengths relevant to African states' needs 
in implementing UNSCR 1540.  Resident scientists are willing to 
share relevant experience during facility visits and in panel 
discussions.  The laboratories also can demonstrate procedures for 
accounting for, securing, and protecting potentially hazardous 
biological materials. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PARTICIPANT NOMINATIONS STILL NEEDED 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶14.  Post is aware of a lack of response from many AF posts to 
reftel request for nominations from host country governments; 
organizers need participant biodata urgently in order to ensure 
airfare remains within budget.  To assist posts in identifying 
participants, the CDC's Dr. Kariuki Njenga offers to use his 
extensive biological contacts across Africa.  Participants must be 
in a position to make progress in formulating and implementing 
their respective countries'  UNSCR 1540 National Action Plans. 
 
NAIROBI 00002521  005 OF 005 
 
 
Posts may work directly with Dr. Njenga in identifying and inviting 
appropriate officials.  Dr. Njenga is available at 
knjenga@ke.cdc.gov.  (Please copy Louis Griego on any 
correspondence, lggrieg@sandia.gov.)  Participants' travel and per 
diem will be fully funded by the USG.  Participants must be 
sufficiently conversant in biosafety and biosecurity to be able to 
add to discussions and take home new expertise.  They should also 
be influential enough within their governments to effect positive 
change in their home countries, particularly with regard to 
drafting and implementing National Action Plans to comply with the 
requirements of UNSCR 1540.  More information on National Action 
Plans is available at www.un.org/sc/1540/nationalreports.shtml. 
 
--------- 
FOLLOW-UP 
--------- 
 
¶15.  On November 24, Ambassador Chepsongol chaired an organizing 
meeting attended by Dr. Willy Tonui, President of the African 
Biological Safety Association; representatives of the Kenyan 
National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), ILRI, the 
Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) and Dr. Njenga.  NCST, a component of the 
Kenyan Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, will 
be the lead GoK agency for the workshop.  The inter-ministerial 
committee approved workshop visits to the four laboratories listed 
in paragraph 12 and discussed expanding the visits to include 
Kenyatta National Hospital, which is adjacent to KEMRI.  Ambassador 
Chepsongol requested USG funding for a workshop secretariat of six 
staff members.  Most urgently he reiterated his request that the 
names of the African participants be provided to his office as soon 
as possible.  Post replied that participants' names are still 
forthcoming. 
 
¶16.  The visiting delegation (see para. 6) has cleared paragraphs 
1-14. 
 
RANNEBERGER 
 
 
 
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
RANNEBERGER