US embassy cable - 05NAIROBI4002

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 004002 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2025 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, PTER, MARR, MOPS, PGOV, KE 
SUBJECT: UK FRUSTRATIONS WITH CT COOPERATION IN KENYA 
 
Classified By: Michael J. Fitzpatrick, reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  British counterparts told Poloffs September 
19 they are focusing their counter-terrorism (CT) efforts in 
Kenya on border and aviation security and have money to spend 
in both arenas.  They are, however, frustrated with the 
Kenyan government,s lackluster CT performance and also 
continue to be hindered by their currently tenuous bilateral 
relations. The British are experiencing the same frustrations 
as the USG in gaining traction with the Kenyan police, but 
they are making headway with the Administrative Police on 
some of their border security proposals.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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British Continue to Focus on Police, Despite Difficulties 
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2.  (C) British Regional Advisory for Counter-Terrorism, 
Colonel Rob Andrew briefed Pol/C and Poloff September 19 on 
his government,s CT efforts in Kenya.  Andrew began by 
expressing his frustrations working with the Kenyan Police 
Service (KPS).  The British High Commission,s police 
advisor, who intended to work with the U.S.-sponsored Joint 
Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), was sent back to the U.K. 
because the JTTF failed to stand up as planned.  However, 
Andrew has had more success working with individual units 
within KPS, particularly the Anti Terrorism Police Unit 
(ATPU) and with the separate Administrative Police (AP).  The 
British plan to work closely with both ATPU and AP to help 
create a border security management strategy.  In preparation 
for such a strategy, Colonel Andrew has been spending weeks 
traveling Kenya's remote border regions; he plans to soon 
drive the desert tracks which run the length of the entire 
Somali border along with AP and possibly some Kenyan military 
officials. If so, this would be the first time to our 
knowledge that anyone -- including the government -- has done 
so in many years. 
 
3.  (C) The British have funding for some capacity training 
and a MANPAD training class for the AP and the Kenyan 
military. Additionally, they have 70,000 Pounds to equip the 
AP with radios and 30 thousand Pounds for training with the 
equipment.  (COMMENT: Before FMF was frozen due to Kenya,s 
signing of the Rome Convention without a bilateral Article 98 
agreement, KUSLO planned to equip the Kenyan military with 
radios.  If FMF returns or other funding is found, this is an 
area where our two countries can work together to increase 
Kenya,s capacity to monitor their borders and respond to 
threats and/or disasters.  END COMMENT). 
 
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British Relationship with Kenyan Military Tenuous 
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4.  (C) Kenyan media recently reported the GOK is delaying 
renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing British 
soldiers to train in Kenya.  One article claimed British 
troops departed Kenya after being denied access to their 
training facility.  .  British Head of Policy Delivery, Alex 
Budden, countered media reports, explaining training is still 
ongoing, although the soldiers have been somewhat restricted 
to certain areas.  The MOU, in fact, is renegotiated every 
three years.  Currently, it is in an extension period until 
November, and it could be extended for another three months. 
Budden said the new Kenyan military leadership is on board 
with extending an MOU, and they are still working out the 
details.  He speculated that the news reports were planted by 
ministers opposed to the UK -- such as former National 
Security Minister Chris Murungaru (who not only was stripped 
in August of his US visa, but who through his corrupt 
dealings now owns significant landholdings near some of the 
British training areas.)  The British recognize the need to 
provide Kenya with some benefit in exchange for training 
their soldiers here, and are considering ways to make the 
relationship more constructive.  Budden and Andrew both note 
the renewal is typically a "down-to-the-wire" matter, with 
high-level officials flying in from the UK to seal the deal. 
That, plus the inevitable dickering over terms and amounts of 
recompense, is why the UK now hopes to seal a five-year 
renewal instead of just three. 
 
5.  (C) COMMENT:  The British CT engagement strategy meshes 
well with USG plans.  In addition to taking the lead on 
aviation security in Kenya (British Airways has 10 flights 
out of Nairobi weekly), the British can provide necessary 
border security training and equipment that compliments our 
maritime and other border security programs.  Although spikes 
in British relations with Kenya continue, they have relations 
with some aspects of the police and military that will allow 
them to move forward with their security and CT plans.  Post 
will continue to coordinate CT efforts with British 
counterparts to ensure cohesiveness without duplication.  END 
COMMENT. 
BELLAMY