TIGHT SECURITY

US Vice-president Joe Biden arrives this evening for a three-day visit marking renewed American confidence in Kenya.

Ahead of the visit by the second-most powerful figure in the US, elaborate security measures have been put in place.
US Vice President Joe Biden


Five special vehicles, sniffer dogs, special gun detectors, special bulletproof vests, and other gadgets are among equipment shipped in from the US ahead of Biden’s arrival. President Barack Obama who traces his roots to Kenya was initially to attend the opening of the World Cup in South Africa, but he asked Biden to represent the US.

A source familiar with international relations claimed cancellation of Obama’s trip was "tactful because if he were the one to travel he would not have avoided Kenya, which he is not ready to do at this point."

And as a show of confidence in the Proposed Constitution by the Obama Administration, Biden is expected to announce funds the US will be dishing out to the Government in support of the process, according to US Ambassador Michael Rannerberger.

While in Kenya, Biden will be riding in special vehicles and would not rely on those that would have been provided by Kenya.

US security agents are also expected to take charge of protecting their Vice-President but would co-operate with their Kenyan counterparts.

Top Secret Services officials, who included snipers and arrived ahead of Biden, told those from Kenya their work will be, among others, to clear crowds and vehicles.

"Once he is here, ours will be just clearing traffic for him. They met us and said they would be in charge of everything," said a senior Kenyan officer who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Secret Service agents started arriving last month, to ensure security before Biden arrives. We could not establish how many they are, but insiders put it at about 40.

They met a team of Kenyan police on Thursday and Friday to arrange how they wanted their programme to run.

A source said the Secret Service agents whose role is ensuring the safety of VIPs such as the President, former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, presidential candidates, their families, did not want to engage the Kenyan security.

"They said it is their role to ensure the VP is safe and leaves safely," added another Kenyan official.

would visit

Their interest has been two major hotels where Biden and his team would be staying for the three days he would be around, and the places he would visit, including Parliament and the University of Nairobi.

Security has been beefed up in the city ahead of his arrival tonight, with police being put on standby to start work from this evening, until the day he flies out to South Africa.

The plane carrying Biden touches down at 7pm and will be welcomed by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Several police officers have been placed on Mombasa Road to clear human and regular traffic for his convoy.

Security has been beefed up at Hotel Intercontinental where Biden will be staying. Insiders said movements there might be limited from midday on Monday.

The Secret Service is a US federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division.

Apart from meeting President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Biden will also hold talks with National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and the Clerk Patrick Gichohi. Though the subject of discussion is scanty, sources intimated that the role of Parliament in reforms would top the agenda.

After meeting the Speaker, Biden would also hold talks with Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review Chairman Abdikadir Mohamed, and nine members of the Parliamentary Caucus on Reforms.

Kabete retreat

The members of the caucus include MPs Danson Mungatana, Olago-Aluoch, Margaret Kamar, and Bonny Khalwale.

The caucus is one of the outfits fronting a new constitution and was behind the Kabete retreat that brought together MPs in March, to negotiate contents of the Proposed Constitution.

Biden’s visits paves way for President Obama who has said he would visit the homeland of his father.

Although a dispatch from the White House states Biden will discuss "bilateral and regional security issues" with Kibaki and Raila, the timing of the talks is curious.

Campaigns ahead of the August referendum poll have peaked while the ICC investigators are in the country, poring over documents and listening to potential witnesses.

Like those before him, Biden is expected to push the realisation of a new constitution. Although the two principals have publicly stated their support for the document, some key Government ministers and officials are out of step.

The US Government has previously warned of unspecified action against the Kenyan leadership should it fail to implement the reform agenda and end intermittent wrangles that have threatened to derail the Grand Coalition Government.