Viewing cable 08NAIROBI311, KENYA ELECTORAL CRISIS: VIOLENCE FLARES IN KALENJIN/KIKUYU BOARDER TOWNS
VZCZCXRO3970
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #0311 0291400
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291400Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4469
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 9854
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5750
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 5073
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2588
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1857
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2618
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2552
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000311
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: PHUM ASEC PGOV KE
SUBJECT: KENYA ELECTORAL CRISIS: VIOLENCE FLARES IN
KALENJIN/KIKUYU BORDER TOWNS
REF: 07 NAIROBI 2215
Classified By: Political Counselor Larry Andre, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
¶1. (SBU) Late on January 24, a fresh round of violence erupted in Nakuru, Naivasha, and Tomboroa — all Rift Valley Province towns near the border of Kikuyu-dominated Central Province. The highest death toll was in Nakuru, where clashes between rival armed gangs armed with machetes, spears, bows and arrows killed over 60 people.
¶2. (C) In response to the violence, two army platoons (approximately 60 troops) deployed to Nakuru to support the police on January 25. By January 26, the number had increased to four platoons (approximately 120 troops). The troops patrolled roads, cleared road blocks and protected displaced people. At one point (likely by accident) troops found themselves between two gangs preparing to clash. They were able to disperse the gangs with no shots fired.
¶3. (SBU) In Naivasha town, armed gangs (rumored to be from the Kikuyu Mungiki criminal organization – see reftel) launched attacks against non-Kikuyus. At least 19 people (Luo, Luhya, and Kalenjin) were reportedly burned in their homes or hacked to death.
¶4. (SBU) In Timboroa, a town north of Nakuru, police contacts reported that two groups of Kalenjin arsonists torched a settlement of 50 timber houses on the night of January 27. There were other reports that the attacks were more serious. The other reports described armed Kalenjin gangs, some of whom were dressed in police and army uniforms, who launched organized attacks against Timboroa residents (presumably Kikuyu). According to the Kenya Red Cross, approximately 10,000 people have been displaced as a result of the Timboroa attacks.
¶5. (C) Police contacts reported that ethnic violence has escalated to the point where their forces are becoming overstretched. “We are operating in crisis mode,” the contact said. On January 28, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was reported in the press to have called for Kenya’s armed forces to deploy to suppress the fighting.
¶6. (SBU) There are also credible reports that youth gangs are now manning roadblocks and providing security escorts in places like Kisumu (Western Province), Naivasha, and Nakuru.
¶7. (C) Comment: So far, Kenya’s military forces have tried to keep their involvement at a minimal level, but the pressure appears to be increasing for them to play a more active role. Neither the police nor the armed forces are well trained in riot control, and the rules of engagement for both forces are likely to be similar. If the military does begin to assume a greater role in trying to quell the violence, however, we believe that the stronger chain of command will lead to greater discipline and fewer incidents of excessive force.
End Comment.
RANNEBERGER
About the Author
It is clear why nominations to the Judiciary will continue being fiercely contentious. Uhuru wouldn’t wish to be probed for Njuguna Gitau’s assasination. Pressure is also being put by the elite backers of the “Forest Guard” and Mungiki who are afraid of an independent local tribunal that would probe such events as this one (below) splashed by the Wikileaks (with names to boot).
No wonder an insider AG and pliant CJ are BADLY needed within certain circles led by Uhuru Kenyatta. No wonder the panic. It’s all fear of real Justice. Even the myth that the military stayed in their Baracks during PEV is finally debunked…according to the US Embassy, some select soldiers under command of Gen. Njoroge and Brig. Gen. Ikenye were busy air-raiding their own civilians as in Sadam Hussein’s Iraq…let these revelations keep trickling out.
According to an Embassy source, elements of the
Kikuyu-dominated Party of National Unity (PNU) are backing the
so-called “Forest Guard” militia, which includes Mungiki members and
is being organized and led by retired General H.W. Njoroge, former
Commandant of the National Defense College. Njoroge has reportedly
put pressure on current Kenya Army Commander, Lieutenant General
Augustino Njoroge (no known relation) to release G3 rifles and
provide helicopter support to the Forest Guard. H.W. Njoroge is
allegedly being assisted by retired Brigadier General Peter Ikenya, who is acting as Chief of Staff for the effort. This movement is
reportedly receiving funding from a number of Kikuyu businessmen,
including a Solomon Karanja and Steven Mbugwa. Mbugwa is said to be
running fund raising and other financial support operations out of
his business Muthaiga, Nairobi
This is a good Message to the Most Corrupt Kenya Armed Forces>
8 August 2011 Last updated at 14:35 GMT Share this pageEmail Print Share this page
85ShareFacebookTwitterTurkey issues arrest warrants for seven top officers Four top military commanders resigned 10 days ago in protest at the jailing of senior officers Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Turkey appoints military chiefs
Turkey’s military chiefs resign
Turkey ‘plot’ officers on trial
A Turkish court has ordered the arrests of seven generals and admirals accused of trying to undermine the government.
They have been under investigation for their alleged involvement in setting up anti-government websites in 2009.
Gen Nusret Tasdeler, head of the army’s educational command, and Gen Ismail Pekin, the general staff’s intelligence chief, are reportedly among them.
Dozens of other senior officers are in detention over a separate investigation into an alleged plot to provoke a coup.
Four top military commanders, including the Chief of the General Staff Gen Isik Kosaner, resigned 10 days ago in protest at the jailing of officers as part of the investigation into “Operation Sledgehammer”.
The conspiracy is alleged to have been drawn up in 2003 at the Istanbul base of the First Army, shortly after the governing Justice and Development (AK) Party – which has Islamist roots – came to power.
It reportedly involved plans to bomb mosques and provoke tensions with Greece, causing political chaos and justifying a military takeover. Officers say it was only a contingency plan based on scenarios of unrest.
In the past, the army has regarded itself as the guardian of the secular Turkish state. It has overthrown or forced the resignation of four governments since 1960 – the last time in 1997.
In his farewell message, Gen Kosaner said he could no longer bear to stand by while comrades languished in jail, victims of “flawed” and “unjust” prosecution cases. Officials say the probes are strengthening democracy.
The officers whose arrests have been ordered are expected to hand themselves in to the authorities in the coming days.