U.N. Memo

Dear UNEP Colleagues,

As you are aware, we are experiencing
tensions and violence in certain parts of Kenya and Nairobi following
the Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 27th December.

Together with colleagues in the United Nations duty station at Gigiri, Nairobi we have been actively addressing the implications of the current situation for UN staff. While various communications have been sent by the Designated Official and UNON that address the measures that have been taken, I would like to provide this briefing to UNEP staff which summarises the range of measures being taken below so that you have a comprehensive sense of what is being done.

UN HQ and UNON

The Security Management Team, comprised of UNON, UNEP, UN Habitat and UNDP as well as other UN agencies and programmes operating in Kenya, has met on a number of occasions to review the current situation and updates have been sent by UN Security via email and text messages. The following measures are now in place:

• Nairobi has been declared as Security Phase II duty station, which demands restricted movement and signifies the need for a much higher level of awareness and preparedness than Phase one (precautionary phase to warn staff members that the security situation in the country, or part of it, is such that caution must be exercised). This means that only staff designated as "essential staff" (to maintain a minimum operational capacity) are to report to their offices.

• Unless you have been contacted and
  designated "essential staff" please assume that you do not
  report for duty until phase II ends.
  

  
  

• Depending upon what happens over
  the next 2 to 3 days we will hopefully revert to Phase I. If the
  security situation deteriorates, the Secretary General may consider
  moving to Phase III, which would involve more far reaching measures
  

  
  

• The Director-General of UNON has
  made a media statement and issued a media release, which has also
  been conveyed to the Government of Kenya. Through this communication
  the Director-General draws attention to the deteriorating
  humanitarian situation and makes specific requests to the Government
  of Kenya to restore order.
  

  
  

• UN Headquarters has been
  constantly advised of the situation in Nairobi by UNON.

  
  

UNEP

As Executive Director, I have been in
continuous contact with Ms. Tibaijuka and Peter Marshall, Chief
Security Advisor, and again met with them last night to review and
consult on the UN's response and the safety of our staff. I have also
met with a core team of essential staff from the Executive Office and
have arranged for all Divisional Directors to be contacted to provide
me with advice on all UNEP staff in Kenya, and of the names of
essential staff.

• All Division Directors have been
  requested to communicate with as many staff members as possible,
  through Branch Heads or otherwise, to advise them of the current
  situation.
  

  
  

• If you are designated as
  "essential staff" you will be advised either by my office
  or your Division Director.
  

  
  

• While only essential staff in
  Nairobi are to report to the duty station on working days, Nairobi
  based staff who are not on leave are still expected to work from
  home or elsewhere.
  

  
  

UNCT

The Resident Coordinator for Kenya has
convened meetings of the UNCT to address the mobilization of
operational staff in Kenya. All operational capacity is being
directed towards humanitarian efforts at this time. The UN family is
coordinating very closely with Kenya's Red Cross in mobilising
humanitarian support and we hope that in this way the UN country team
can offer some relief in these difficult times.

What you should do?

_ Be vigilant and take all appropriate measures to ensure your own security and that of
your family.

 

_ If you are not designated essential staff, do not report to the duty station until further
notice.

_ Check your email messages and SMS messages for security updates. If you do not have access to email and are not receiving SMS security updates, please contact Mr. xxxxx on XXXXX or xxxxx@unon.org and provide them with your mobile telephone number.

_ Please ensure that you know who your warden is and his/her telephone number....each division has a designated warden who is one of your colleagues.

If you have a security issue, contact UN Security on the Emergency numbers provided at the back of your staff ID cards. please be aware that UN Security staff will endeavor to provide assistance but they do not have jurisdiction outside of the UN compound. However as in the past they will advise and inform and will seek to facilitate a response by police or your security company.

Please watch / listen to the news regularly and take caution. As things stand, a rally may take place tomorrow or on Tuesday.

If you have any general concerns or queries regarding UNEP, you can contact XXXXX, Chief of Staff, on XXXXX, your Divisional Director or XXXX on XXXXX.

The current situation is both painful
and disappointing for many reasons. As a UN family we must act with
responsibility and compassion. We must also exercise great discipline
and care. Our concern is both for people around Kenya who need our
assistance at this moment and for you - our staff members - whose
security and that of your family members is of paramount concern to
me. We must be realistic in terms of what the UN can do under these
difficult circumstances and it is imperative that we all help by
looking out for and after each other. Stay in contact with friends
and colleagues, think of those who may be on their own and give them
a call.... above all stay well informed and have your warden and UN
security contacts details always with you.

I wish you well for the New Year and
ask you all to exercise due caution until the current tension has
eased. We will send another update on Friday... also remember to
visit UNON and UNEP websites if you can.

With my best wishes

Achim Steiner