VZCZCXRO0609
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #1125 1201129
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291129Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5649
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0061
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5951
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 5248
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2786
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 2027
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2802
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2724
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001125
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV CASC ASEC KE
SUBJECT: SENIOR OFFICIALS ARRESTED AS WARDEN STRIKE
CRIPPLES KENYA'S PRISONS
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SUMMARY
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1. A prison work slowdown has brought severe disruption to
Kenya's correctional institutions. The slowdown which was
announced on April 25 has resulted in substantial problems in
jails throughout Kenya. In his capacity as Minister of Home
Affairs, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka oversees the prison
system. On April 26, Musyoka appointed a high level
commission to investigate prison employee grievances, which
relate to poor pay and poor working and living conditions.
On April 28, Kenyan police arrested nine high-ranking prison
officials, who are being investigated for dereliction of
duty, incitement, and abetting mutiny. According to our
Consular section, no American citizens are incarcerated in
Kenya at this time. End Summary.
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PROTESTING POOR WORKING CONDITIONS
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2. Prison service officials declared a national work
slowdown on April 25 to protest poor working conditions, the
lack of payment of danger premiums, and other issues. This
work slowdown has paralyzed jails around Kenya. There are
reports of prisoners not being fed in some prisons, while in
others, senior prison officials had to feed prisoners
themselves in an attempt to maintain order.
3. On April 26, chaos broke out in Naivasha prison, an hour
drive from Nairobi, when correctional officers did not report
to work. Inmates apparently refused to return to their cells
and then cut off power in the jail. They then tried to break
out of prison. Correctional officers responded, but the
police had to put a security cordon around the prison to
ensure that no one could escape.
4. Also on April 26, Vice President/Minister of Home Affairs
Kalonzo Musyoka appointed a commission to investigate the
striking workers' grievances. Musyoka nominated his
predecessor, Moses Awori, to head the commission. Awori had
made prison reforms one of his highest priorities. However,
correctional officers rejected the Awori commission, stating
that his reforms had been slanted too far toward improving
the lot of prisoners, at the expense of correctional
officers. Labor Minister John Munyes and Trade Union leader
Francis Atwoli also rejected the Awori commission. Whether
the present Awori led commission will fare any better is
anyone's guess at this point.
5. The same day, striking prison service officials
threatened to begin releasing prisoners if their demands were
not met. Prisons Commissioner Gilbert Omondi responded that
striking workers would be arrested if they refused to restore
order in the prisons. On April 28, Kenya Police arrested
nine senior prisons officers, who are being investigated on
charges of withdrawal from duty, incitement to and abetting
mutiny. Among the nine arrested are the Commandant of the
Prisons Training College, the Senior Assistant Commissioner
of Prisons at Prisons HQ, and the Provincial Prisons
Commander of Central Province. Others arrested include the
superintendents of six prisons located in Central, Rift
Valley, and Eastern provinces.
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COMMENT
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6. A check of consular records revealed that currently no
American citizens are being held in Kenyan jails. Post will
continue to follow this issue, which could have serious
public safety ramifications if prison security is not
restored. End Comment.
RANNEBERGER