Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06NAIROBI1187, MERCENARIES" IN KENYA TURN TABLES ON THEIR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06NAIROBI1187.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06NAIROBI1187 2006-03-15 13:27 2011-04-06 00:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Nairobi
VZCZCXRO9730
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHNR #1187/01 0741327
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151327Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0292
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 8305
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 4544
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 4032
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 1214
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1907
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1883
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0006
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0064
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA  PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2026 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL CVIS KE
SUBJECT: "MERCENARIES" IN KENYA TURN TABLES ON THEIR 
ACCUSERS

 
REF: A. (A) NAIROBI 988 
 
     B. (B) NAIROBI 1114 
     C. (C) NAIROBI 1023 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick.  Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Stepping out of the shadows, Kenya's 
"foreign mercenaries" stun Kenya with claims the opposition, 
not the government, tried to hire them to bankroll regime 
change.  Following the foreigners' March 13 staged press 
conference, ostensibly to clear their names, the intensity of 
the accusations has only grown, with calls for arrests of the 
very opposition leaders who days ago were on the offensive. 
While it is early yet to sift truth from sensation, it is 
clear that these men are connected to prominent Kenyans and 
are fuel for the increasingly hostile and messy political 
debate in Kenya.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Hired Thugs or Just Fabulously Wealthy Businessmen? 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2.  (C) After a week of cat-and-mouse with the media and 
opposition, alleged mercenaries are out of hiding and turning 
the tables on their Kenyan accusers.  On March 13, two men, 
identified in the media as foreign mercenaries, staged a 
press conference to "clear their names."  Dressed to the hilt 
in "Soprano-esque" suits and dripping with ostentatious gold 
accessories, one even sporting gold-rimmed rose-colored 
glasses for the event, they denied claims that they are 
mercenaries hired by the Kenyan government.  They claim to 
have just returned to Kenya after a few days in Dubai.  The 
men's coming-out followed opposition ODM leader MP Raila 
Odinga's repeated accusations that the government hired 
foreigners to carry out the March 2 raid on the Standard 
Media Group and to assassinate leading opposition figures 
(ref A).  During their press event held in a limited-access 
airport "government VIP lounge," the men claimed they are 
Armenians and merely wealthy businessmen. They added, "if we 
were mercenaries, Kenya could not afford us."  They claimed 
to have had failed business dealings with Odinga and met with 
Kalonzo Musyoka and Odinga who sought USD 41,600,000 to 
support the "No" referendum campaign as a way to bring down 
the Kibaki government.  They also announced that they had 
loaned Odinga approximately USD1.5 million in cash. 
 
3. BIONOTE:  Photocopies of passports believed to belong to 
the two foreigners reveal that they are: Margaryan, Artur, 
DOB: 15 Jan 73, passport number AB0322223, issued 27 Jan 97; 
and Sargsyan, Artur, DOB: 14 May 70, passport number 
AF0599780, issued 1 Mar 03.  END BIONOTE. 
 
4.  (C) At their own press conference the next day, both 
Odinga and Musyoka deny the claims.  ODM accused the 
foreigners of laundering drug trafficking proceeds and 
challenged President Kibaki to come clean on the presence of 
the Armenians in Kenya.  State House responded with a 
Presidential Press Service statement warning Odinga against 
tarnishing the Office of the President with baseless 
"propaganda."  One of the mercenaries claimed to have 
videotaped his passing money to Odinga in a Dubai hotel 
several months ago.  Pro-government members of parliament, 
led by Environment Minister Kivutha Kibwana, called March 14 
for the arrest of Odinga and Musyoka on charges of treason. 
(NOTE:  Post has reason to believe that the threat to arrest 
Odinga may indeed be imminent.  Given the tribal undertones 
and the clear sense that this is no longer "politics as 
usual," Post has urged State House not to rashly move to 
arrest Odinga or other opposition leaders.  Presidential 
Policy Adviser Stanley Murage told A/DCM March 15 that the 
police would take statements from the Armenian accusers this 
week before making any arrests.  END NOTE.) 
 
5.  (C) Numerous irregularities in the Armenians' stories 
create a strong suspicion that the government may be 
puppeteering the charade to discredit Odinga and other 
opposition leaders. (Ref B.) The foreigners claim they are 
Armenians, even nephews of the Armenian Prime Minister. 
However, the Kenyan Immigration Minister, John Konchella, 
says that they are Czech nationals.  Even their very arrival 
at the airport is in dispute.  They claim to have just 
 
NAIROBI 00001187  002 OF 002 
 
 
arrived from Dubai on a Kenya Airways flight.  However, 
immigration officials stated they arrived on a charter 
flight.  Several others, including Odinga, insist the pair 
arrived via a government vehicle to the airport hours before 
the Dubai flight landed.  Post has various pieces of evidence 
suggesting that the men are associated with either State 
House or one of the "first families" and Kamlesh Pattni, the 
man behind the Goldenberg scandal. 
 
Demonstrations: Not Just for the Opposition 
------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Proving the government can also draw a crowd (ref C), 
a handful of pro-Kibaki officials organized a march through 
downtown Nairobi March 10.  The MPs present professed their 
loyalty to President Kibaki.  "Just like ants, termites, and 
bees do not allow the queen to be attacked, we will also 
protect the President."  The event also included a slew of 
accusations against ODM leader Raila Odinga, with a foreign 
twist - Raila sold part of his business interests to Russian 
arms dealers, and "is the one with links in Russia, having 
gone to college there."  (NOTE: In fact, Odinga went to 
college in East Germany.  END NOTE.)  The opposition was not 
the only target.  According to media reports, Assistant 
Gender and Sports Minister Maina Kamanda warned journalists 
against writing reports that discredit the government.  Media 
persons, he said, "would not be spared in the event of 
chaos," suggesting they would be held accountable should 
their work incite unrest. Attempting to tone down the ethnic 
tenor of the rhetoric, Kibaki, speaking at a meeting of 70 
MPs aligned with him, advised his colleagues to "weigh very 
carefully what we say," and avoid "opportunistic politics." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (C) Forget the fiction of LeCarre's novel "The Constant 
Gardener."  This real-life tale of hired thugs of 
questionable nationality, prominent Kenyans, massive 
corruption, blackmail, threats, and narcotics trafficking 
schemes, reads like a script Hollywood would reject as 
unbelievable.  Unfortunately, the duelng accusations have 
sidetracked public attention from the seriousness of the 
underlying issues of corruption and democratic space. 
Indeed, each new revelation of wrong-doing is bound to shake 
the public's faith in both sides' stries and their 
leaderships. END COMMENT. 
ROWE