US embassy cable - 05NAIROBI2617

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 002617 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, EAID, PGOV, PINS, KISL, KPAO, KE 
SUBJECT: LAMU: BUDDING NEGATIVE SENTIMENTS TOWARD THE U.S. 
 
REF: A) NAIROBI 873 B) NAIROBI 2409 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/C Lisa Peterson, reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Poloff traveled with the CJTF-HOA Civil 
Affairs (CA) team to Lamu to gauge local sentiments toward 
the U.S. and to visit Siyu, the village from which three of 
the recently-released Kikambala terror suspects hail. 
Frustrations with the U.S. are mounting in Lamu due to 
several recent counter-terrorism related events: the release 
of four Kikambala terror suspects, the maritime activities of 
U.S.-trained Kenya Navy coastal patrol elements and a lull in 
CJTF-HOA Civil Affairs (CA) activities in the district.  Lamu 
has long been on the frontlines of Post's efforts to reach 
out to marginalized Muslim communities.  As such, we must 
seek creative ways to build on our relationship with the 
people of Lamu and maintain an open and friendly environment. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
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Terror Suspects' Release Causing Ripples 
----------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Poloff and the CJTF-HOA Civil Affairs (CA) team 
arrived in Lamu June 14 by road from Malindi, (Malindi 
portion of the trip reported septel). They were met by former 
Siyu Councilor (who is now a contractor working closely with 
the CA team) Aboud Abu Baakar (ref A), who immediately 
requested a private meeting with Poloff.  Abu Baakar told 
Poloff much had changed in Lamu since they last met in March. 
 He said the June 9 release of the Kikambala murder suspects 
(ref B) has stirred Lamu residents and, coupled with growing 
unease with the U.S. naval presence at Manda Bay, has fueled 
new anti-American rhetoric in the mosques.  Abu Baakar, who 
is also the Lamu branch Chairman of the Supreme Council of 
Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM), said that during June 10 Friday 
prayers (the day after the suspects' release), preachers were 
complaining about the presence of the American "Marines" in 
Lamu and generally speaking negatively about the U.S. (NFI), 
which he described as a new development. 
 
3.  (C)  Turning to the terror suspects themselves, he 
re-iterated (per previous conversations) his belief in Aboud 
Rogo's guilt in connection with the 2002 Kikambala bombing. 
Residents of Siyu blame Rogo for bringing one of the East 
Africa Al Qaeda cell leaders Fazul Abdullah Mohammed (aka 
Harun Fazul or Abdul Karim) to their village and creating 
problems for their otherwise peaceful society.  (NOTE:  Rogo 
left Siyu to move to Likoni, where he was known to be an 
inflammatory preacher at the mosque. Upon release, he moved 
back to Likoni and is said to be preaching once again.  END 
NOTE.) Abu Baakar is "nervous" about Rogo's release, saying 
Rogo is both angry and dangerous. Many in Lamu associate Abu 
Baakar with the U.S. military, since he works frequently with 
the CA team. He has not been specifically threatened, but he 
fears Rogo is "capable of doing something."  As for released 
suspect Mohamed Seif Kubwa, who is currently Councilor of 
Siyu, Abu Baakar remains on the fence about his guilt, saying 
he cannot know for sure.  Kubwa returned to Lamu town after 
his release, and was scheduled to return to Siyu on June 16. 
Abu Baakar does not trust the Kenyan authorities for 
protection, if he were threatened, and blames the GOK for 
poorly investigating the Kikambala attacks.  He said they had 
the wrong approach because they never consulted with people 
such as himself -- Kubwa was Abu Baakar's next door neighbor, 
and Fazul used to sit out in front of his house in the 
evenings discussing religion with Abu's father -- who may 
have been able to provide useful information. 
 
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Siyu: Don't Punish Us Because of a Few Bad Apples 
------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  Poloff accompanied the CA team June 15 to Siyu, the 
village that once hosted Fazul and from which three of the 
recently-released Kikambala terror suspects hail. The CA 
team, in coordination with the Embassy, identified Siyu as a 
prime candidate for engagement because of its past history 
with these terror suspects and its susceptibility to outside 
influence.  Siyu is a very poor village of approximately 1500 
residents, nestled away on Pate Island in Lamu District. The 
village is 100 percent Muslim and residents observe a 
conservative lifestyle.  CA teams have visited Siyu in the 
past, but no CA projects have been initiated.  Siyu residents 
are aware of the CA projects throughout Lamu and fear that 
because Fazul stayed in their village, "Americans do not like 
the people of Siyu and do not want to help them."  (NOTE: 
There is an ongoing National Museums of Kenya project, funded 
through the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, to 
restore the Siyu Fort.  END NOTE.) 
 
5.  (SBU)  Abu Baakar led the team on a tour of the village, 
which includes 14th Century Omani ruins, a barely functioning 
dispensary, a run-down primary school and mud huts.  Village 
elders and community leaders gathered to meet with the team 
and discuss the village's needs.  Some of the men would not 
shake (female) Poloff's hand and pushed her to the corner to 
speak with the one female representative. However, once she 
was introduced as representing the political section of the 
Embassy, several of the men seemed more open to discussion. 
(COMMENT: In visits to other Muslim villages in Kenya, Poloff 
was generally granted "man" status, by virtue of being a 
Westerner.  This community appeared far more conservative 
than even the villages of Garissa and other Coastal areas 
previously visited.  END COMMENT.)  The team tried to 
initiate a dialogue beyond the standard lengthy list of 
needs, but the community was excited by the team's presence 
and immediately made appeals for projects.  They were happy 
to hear the team wanted to return to participate in cultural 
events and engage in open dialogue, and they extended an 
invitation for an upcoming "village rally" to raise awareness 
for education and other basic needs. 
 
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U.S. Naval Presence Becoming Contentious 
---------------------- 
 
6.  (C) In stark contrast with previous visits to Lamu, 
Poloff noted a pervasive unease with the U.S. naval presence 
in Manda Bay. Recent press articles have accused U.S. 
"Marines" of "terrorizing" the citizens of Lamu and, as 
recently as June 19, of increasing surveillance in Lamu 
because of the release of the terror suspects. Abu Baakar 
also raised the issue, saying one Muslim woman accused the 
patrols -- she didn't specify if these were Americans or 
Kenyans -- of searching her down to her underwear, an 
accusation that will surely fuel extreme anger in a Muslim 
community. Chairman of Lamu County Council, Omar Famau had 
called the Embassy on June 14 to report community complaints 
about perceived "harassment" by U.S. Marines.  During a 
meeting with District Commissioner Kutswa Olaka, he said a 
meeting of community leaders had taken place the previous 
week, and some of the Imams and others made accusations that 
Marines were harassing innocent residents and conducting 
searches of civilian boats.  The DC said he is taking the 
matter up with the Kenya Navy (as is normal procedure, since 
this is actually a Kenya Navy operation.) (NOTE: Although US 
Navy patrol boats are being used, in Kenyan coastal waters, 
only Kenyan personnel board dhows and other boats. US Forces 
will board only if requested by the Kenyan Forces. END NOTE.) 
(COMMENT:  These complaints fall on the heels of the first 
successful, inter-agency (Kenya Navy, Kenya Wildlife Service 
and Kenya Police) operation off the coast of Lamu that 
resulted in the interdiction of a boat on June 6 transporting 
illegal drugs, cigarettes and endangered species.  It is 
likely that local fisherman are aware of the seizure and are 
mounting pressure on local leaders to stop the naval patrols. 
Another reason Lamu responds to the Marines as they do is 
because of the presence of many European expatriates who 
dislike military presence in their "paradise." END COMMENT.) 
 
7.  (C)  The DC took the opportunity, instead, to complain 
about the lack of new CA projects. He pleaded for contracts 
to be awarded to local contractors and mentioned that 
applications for projects continue to pour into his office. 
(NOTE: When the CA team was living in Lamu, they had regular 
interaction with the DC. This may be why applications were 
coming directly to his office.  The CA team has since 
relocated to Nairobi in order to support CJTF-HOA's priority 
areas, largely in Northeastern Province.  END NOTE.) 
(COMMENT:  Lamu has benefited from EACTI-funded Sel-Help 
projects as well as more CA projects than the rest of Kenya 
put together, and residents have come to expect a 
never-ending flow of CJTF-HOA money.  Despite all the good 
work of the CA teams and the positive sentiment their work 
has fomented in the District, the villages that have not 
benefited directly want their piece of the pie as well. In 
February, Poloff heard nothing but praise for CA projects 
from every corner of Lamu.  As resources are shifting to 
Northeastern and to other sections of the Coast, Lamu 
residents are beginning to yearn for more attention.  The 
situation is a prime example of why continued engagement and 
relationship-building exercises can be the most beneficial 
aspects of the projects. END COMMENT) 
 
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COMMENT 
---------------- 
 
8.  (C)  Although small, marginalized, and perhaps even 
economically unimportant, Lamu remains on the front-line of 
Post's efforts to reach out to Muslim communities in Kenya. 
Small villages throughout the islands, as in the case of 
Siyu, are poor, disenfranchised and conservative, leaving 
them susceptible to outsiders who could exploit these exact 
attributes.  In just a four month period, Poloff witnessed a 
district that went from outwardly thrilled with U.S. 
engagement, particularly thanks to CJTF-HOA's work there, to 
outwardly critical.  The town remains generally safe, and 
most residents are friendly to Americans. However, new 
underlying tensions could develop into an openly antagonistic 
environment in a district that houses a U.S. military 
presence and maintains a strategic importance because of its 
proximity to Somalia and virtually unpatrolled waterways. 
Post must remain engaged on all fronts -- economic, social, 
cultural, political, and security -- to ensure that Lamu does 
not turn away from a relationship we have worked hard to 
build. 
 
9.  (C)  One avenue that remains key to this relationship is 
the CJTF-HOA CA projects, and the team should continue to 
seek new project opportunities in the District. The projects 
themselves have helped to create goodwill throughout the 
Coast and Northeastern province.  CA is an invaluable tool 
that can help forward Post's CT and Muslim outreach 
strategies.  The CA team has established a worthy reputation 
which allows it to go virtually anywhere in Coast and 
Northeastern Provinces and be welcomed with open arms.  These 
established relationships carry over to the rest of the 
Embassy and help lay the groundwork for future political 
engagement in many remote and previously unaccessed 
locations. Now the challenge lies in sustaining those 
relationships through continued interaction and exchange of 
ideas.  END COMMENT. 
 
BELLAMY