181. Telegram 3976 From the Embassy in Kenya to the Secretary of State’s Delegation in transit to Africa and the Embassy in the United Kingdom1 2
SUBJECT:
- KENYAN MOOD ON EVE OF VISIT
REF:
- STATE 099043 TOSEC 110030
1. U.S.-Kenyan relations are excellent, with no major bilateral differences. Kenyans have in past three days taken important step to removing the one outstanding irritant by making formal offer of compensation to U.S. owner of ruby mine seized in 1974. Private U.S. investment in Kenya is growing steadily—General Motors broke ground earlier this month for a vehicle assembly plant. U.S. Navy visits to Mombasa port have been welcomed at three-four month intervals for past several years, and [Page 2] USN has conducted joint exercises with Kenya Navy. Thus, although officially non-aligned, Kenya is in practice pro-Western and pro-American.
2. There is substantial congruence between U.S. and Kenyan views on international issues. President Kenyatta personally attempted to foster unity solution in Angola in 1975 mediation efforts among three rival factions. GOK has yet to recognize MPLA and Kenyatta is known to be disappointed at failure of mediation, unhappy at Soviet-Cuban (as well as South African) involvement. Kenya voted with U.S. twice and abstained seven times on nine most critical UNGA votes last year. Kenya has rhetorically supported liberation movements in Southern Africa, although it soft-pedaled its rhetoric while Smith-Nkomo talks were in progress. Despite intensity of Kenyatta’s and GOK feelings on importance of early majority rule in Southern Africa, we have received reliable reports that Kenyans will do nothing to embarrass U.S. on this issue during Secretary’s visit.
3. Topic of greatest importance to GOK at this juncture is Kenya’s security. Parliament has just completed debate on Kenya-Uganda relations, with strong expression of concern over recent Ugandan violation of Kenya’s borders by land and helicopter. Kenya is also worried about Somalia’s territorial claims on Kenya’s Northeast, [Page 3] which could become live issue if TFAI independence triggered conflict in Horn. Kenyan military weakness vis-a-vis Soviet-armed Uganda and Somalia is preying heavily on Kenyatta’s mind, and U.S. military assistance will receive heavy emphasis in talks with the Secretary.
4. Ambassador’s recent contacts with most of the leading GOK officials, together with excellent cooperation in planning visit from both official and private Kenyans, convinces us that Secretary will be warmly welcomed in Nairobi. Press April 24 carries front-page favorable treatment of Secretary’s April 22 press conference, and very positive biographic sketches of the Secretary have appeared in two publications on eve of visit. No hostile demonstrations are expected, both because GOK has made clear that they will not be tolerated, and because Kenyans of all strata value friendship with U.S.
- Source: Department of State, Nairobi Embassy Files: Lot 79 F 186, POL-US/Kenya, 1976. Secret; Niact Immediate. Repeated Immediate to the Department and to Dar Es Salaam, Accra, Lusaka, Monrovia, Dakar, and Kinshasa. Drafted by Kamman and Mattson of the Political Section; cleared by Natirboff of the Political Section; approved by DCM Lindstrom.↩
- Ambassador Marshall described the Kenyan mood on the eve of Secretary of State Kissinger’s visit, noting that although officially non-aligned, Kenya was pro-Western and pro-American in practice.↩