US embassy cable - 05NAIROBI4694

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 004694 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2025 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KE 
SUBJECT: MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE US ABOUND IN BANANA 
COUNTRY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William M. Bellamy for reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a November 1 trip through Central 
Province, local leaders shared with the Ambassador their 
slanted, often erroneous, views on the U.S. relationship with 
Kenya and our role in the constitutional referendum process. 
While providing an excellent opportunity for the Ambassador 
to set the record straight with influential local residents, 
these conversations offered useful (if sometimes disturbing) 
insight into the thinking of the mostly Kikuyu pro-NARC 
government region.  END SUMMARY. 
 
A SMALL DONATION GOES A LONG WAY 
-------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) On November 1, the Ambassador traveled to Central and 
Eastern Provinces, stopping in Embu to dedicate three 
Ambassador's Self Help Fund-donated milk coolers, and in 
Thika to visit a PEPFAR-funded HIV treatment clinic.  In 
Embu, both Provincial Commissioner John Nandasaba and 
District Commissioner Shadrack Mwadime emphasized the need 
for greater economic development in the area.  They cited 
particular needs for market access for local farmers, 
investment in the tea and coffee industries, and irrigation. 
Speaking at the milk cooler dedication, local officials and 
farmers praised the significant impact the Embassy's donation 
had made in providing a steady source of income for some 
whose herds were as small as one or two cows.  In Thika, the 
Ambassador toured the District Hospital and met with health 
care workers implementing a program to reduce mother to child 
HIV transmission with funding from PEPFAR. 
 
MYTH, LEGEND, AND MISPERCEPTION 
------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) In Nyeri, a principal urban center of Central 
Province, the Ambassador hosted lunch for representatives of 
the major Christian churches in Kenya, a former mayor of the 
city, and a prominent local lawyer.  Much of the conversation 
centered on why, in the guests' minds, the U.S. is working 
against the ruling NARC government.  The Reverend Charles 
Ndanyu, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa 
in Nyeri challenged the Ambassador on reports that the U.S. 
sees Kenya as a failed state.  Wilson Wanyoike, Central 
Province Coordinator for the National Christian Council of 
Kenya, added that in connection with the travel advisory, 
Kenyans had the view that the U.S. was "hostile."  The 
Ambassador explained that the failed state report (widely 
covered in local media) came from a little-known independent 
organization.   He also clarified the purpose of and impetus 
for the travel advisory, noting that tourism from the U.S. 
was at a record high. 
 
4.  (U) Father Anthony Munene, Moderator of the Catholic 
Archdiocese of Mount Kenya, wondered why in his 2005 Fourth 
of July remarks the Ambassador had called for regime change 
in Kenya.  (NOTE: The Ambassador had not called for regime 
change, but the Information Minister, in his official 
response, queried whether the U.S. was seeking regime change 
in Kenya.  END NOTE)  Wanyoike added that Kenyans "at the 
grass roots" have the opinion that the U.S. is 
"uncomfortable" working with the NARC government, and that 
the U.S. is more inclined towards "the other end."  The 
Ambassador responded that such allegations were entirely 
false.  He pointed out in particular that there was no good 
reason why the U.S. should be more concerned with corruption 
in Kenya than Kenyans. 
 
5.  (U) The conversation shifted, almost inevitably, to area 
MP Chris Murungaru.  James Mararo, NARC District Chairman and 
former mayor of Nyeri, recounted his version of the history 
behind the UK's refusal to allow the MP to travel to Britain, 
saying it was because Murungaru had changed his official 
vehicle from a Land Rover to a Toyota.  Mararo wondered what 
similar offense Murungaru had committed against the U.S.  The 
lunch attendees also asked why the U.S. wanted Kenya to sign 
an Article 98 agreement, "in violation of international law." 
 The Ambassador explained our policy on corruption and 
service members overseas. 
 
UNQUESTIONABLY BANANA 
--------------------- 
 
6.  (U) Equally unsurprising, G.K. Kibera, former chair of 
the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) asked the question which the 
many media members present in Embu had repeatedly raised: Was 
the U.S. "flirting" with the Orange ("No") side in the 
upcoming constitutional referendum?  Kibera confirmed that in 
Kenya, voting has a particular geographic dimension that will 
be evident on November 21. 
 
7.  (U) Finally able to pose a question of his own, the 
Ambassador asked if the Qnstituency Development Fund program 
had been effective.  Father Munene remarked that while 
implementation was poor, the plan to try to spread 
development to all areas was an encouraging step.  The 
practice of providing government resources to all Members of 
Parliament for their constituencies, irrespective of party 
affiliation, demonstrated a new level of political 
sophistication. 
 
8.  (C) COMMENT: The Ambassador's conversations in Central 
Province demonstrate the extent to which Kenyans will vote on 
November 21 based on tribal, and thus regional, affiliation. 
Pockets of the country have become solidly Orange ("No") or 
Banana ("Yes") along expected lines.  Comments in Nyeri also 
reveal the depth of paranoia about U.S. policy in, and 
intentions towards, Kenya among well-educated and influential 
Kenyans in the Kikuyu heartland.  At the end of the Nyeri 
conversation, the lunch guests seemed quite at ease, willing 
to accept our arguments, and eager for further contact and 
discussion.  The trip to Central Province illustrates the 
advantage of face-to-face contacts with elites outside of 
Nairobi.  END COMMENT. 
BELLAMY