RAILA AND KALONZO RESPOND TO CLAIMS
By Biketi Kikechi

Standard, Kenya
March 14 2006

Langata MP Raila Odinga has denied ever meeting with Armenian
businessmen alleged to be hired mercenaries.

He also dismissed claims that they had loaned him US $1.5 million
(Sh112 million).

“The contents of the statement are most ridiculous and a phantom of
great imagination,” said Raila.

The MP claimed it was “another desperate attempt” by the Government
to save its face from myriad corruption scandals surrounding it and
abuse of power.

But his Orange Democratic Movement colleague, Kalonzo Musyoka, said
it was possible he had met the men at the Grand Regency Hotel during
or after the referendum.

Raila said he had never met Artur Sargsyan and Artur Margysyan or
their associates.”I find the claims completely unfounded, baseless,
nefarious and maliciously concocted to scandalise and malign my name,”
said Raila.

He said the figures mentioned to have exchanged hands were too large
and could not have been transacted in the manner they want Kenyans
to believe.

He claimed the two Armenians had confirmed they were the mercenaries
he was referring to because they did not deny that they were the
people he mentioned to the media.

Press conference at VIP lounge

The former Roads minister claimed they were closely linked to the
Government because they had allegedly been seen several times at
State House.

“Find out who called the media to go to the airport for their Press
conference and you will see that it is people associated with one Narc
activist from Othaya,” said Raila. The MP said it was strange that
“ordinary businessmen” were allowed to address the Press from the
VIP lounge at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. He also doubted
that one of the businessmen travelled from Dubai into the country on
Monday morning. Raila asked the two businessmen to explain with whom
they conducted business in Kenya.

The MP said if Sargysyan was a senior Armenian official as he claimed
to be, then he must be in the country as a guest of the Government.

On March 4, Raila claimed that mercenaries from Russia had been
brought into the country to assassinate some Orange Democratic Movement
(ODM) leaders.

Speaking at a rally in Kibera slums to drum up support for a
demonstration in support of media freedom, he claimed the mercenaries
had taken part in the Standard/KTN raid carried out by the police
two weeks ago.

Police later demanded that Raila record a statement to substantiate
his allegations, but the former Roads minister said the issue he had
raised was obvious.

“They know very well that a squad of Russian mercenaries is in the
country. Why should I record a statement about it?” he posed.

Russian embassy dismissed claims

Two days later on March 7, Raila claimed he had information the
mercenaries hired by the Government had been moved from a hotel in
the city centre to a secret location.

He further alleged the mercenaries were under protection of the General
Service Unit. He also insisted the mercenaries were from Russia.

“We all know there are no white people in our police force, where did
they come from during the attack (against the Standard Group)?” he
asked.

He claimed that efforts by the Russians to conceal their identity
using masks had failed as the colour of their skins could be spotted
from the opening around the eyes.

A day later, Raila recorded a statement with the police after meeting
Police Commissioner Hussein Ali. He gave details about the identities
of four men who were allegedly living in a house in the plush Runda
Estate, off Limuru Road. He insisted that he chose to record the
statement and was not forced to do so.

But the Russian Embassy in Nairobi dismissed the MP’s claims even as
police visited the house in Runda.

A spokesman of Russian Ambassador Alexander Ignatiev said the Russian
government was unaware of the existence of mercenaries in Kenya from
their country.

Police visited the Runda house using a map provided by Raila, but
only found watchmen at the gate who denied them entry.

Some neighbours indicated the house has been vacant since December,
but other sources said police using unmarked vehicles frequently
visited the house.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress