REPORTERS FINALLY ALLOWED INTO POSH HOUSE

Daily Nation , Kenya
March 14 2006

Journalists were finally let into the posh house in an upmarket
Nairobi estate which Langata MP said was hosting mercenaries.

After holding a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA) and denying they were mercenaries two Armenian
brothers – Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan – allowed reporters
into the house in Runda estate where Langata MP Raila Odinga claimed
mercenaries were living.

One of the brothers, Mr Artur Margaryan, took journalists on a tour
of the expensively furnished house and fielded questions as he walked
them out of the compound.

A gap below the gate from which the Press had taken pictures last
week was sealed.

Except for a gardener and a meek black dog that was not chained and
which did not bark, the place was deserted.

Mr Margaryan was driven into the compound in a red Mitsubishi saloon
by a woman of Caucasian descent whom he said was his bodyguard, some
minutes before 2pm. He was expensively dressed and had gold chains
and rings.

He requested journalists not to take pictures of the car for security
reasons. The same message had been communicated to the journalists by a
man who introduced himself as his lawyer. He declined to give his name.

Last Thursday, the red car trailed the Nation team throughout the
time we were at the estate following the story.

On entering the house, the first thing that attracts one’s eyes is
a big coloured portrait drawing of the woman introduced as a bodyguard.

The sitting room was expensively furnished with leather sofa sets
and a single coffee table with an ash tray.

Electronic goods unpacked – including refrigerators, several
flat-screen TVs and disks – were scattered on the ground floor of
the house giving the impression that the occupants had just moved
into the house.

The kitchen was well stocked with maize flour, vegetables, and
soft drinks.

Mr Margaryan said the food was for the gardener, whom he pays Sh
20,000 a month.

When reporters entered the compound it was Mr Margaryan who opened
the door to the main house with keys from his pockets. The gardener
only opened the gate.

He insisted that he and his brother, with whom he addressed a press
conference at the airport, were “clean businessmen” who came into
the country through the Democratic Republic of Congo last year.

He says they liked the country and its people which prompted them to
set up businesses here.

Asked what kind of business they were engaged in, Mr Margaryan said
they were into real estate and importation of cars and electronics.

He admitted he was Armenian and together with his brother had served
in the military as it was mandatory for everybody to serve on attaining
18 years of age.

Mr Margaryan said his brother travels to Armenia from his base in
Dubai frequently as he was interested in the presidential seat held
by his uncle.

The Armenian claimed he had been in the Runda house for the past five
days and was negotiating to buy it.

It is at this point that the landlord asked him to clear his name
first before they could negotiate further.

He further repeated claims he gave Mr Odinga a US$1.5 million loan
(just over Sh100 million) in cash at a Nairobi hotel.

Asked whether there was any agreement on the terms of payments,
Mr Margaryan said it was not the first time he had given such huge
amounts of money without such a contract.

Contacted later, a lawyer for the landlord said the man had only
negotiated lease of the house and not its sale.

He said it was Mr Margaryan who signed the lease at an estate agency.

The lease is drawn between the landlord and Brotherlink International.