KENYAN PAPER URGES GOVERNMENT TO COME CLEAN ON MERCENARY ISSUE

The Standard website, Nairobi
14 Mar 06

Text of editorial entitled “More questions than answers in mercenaries
saga” published by Kenyan newspaper The Standard website on 14 March.

There is clearly more than meets the eye in the drama surrounding
reports of mercenaries linked to the raid on this newspaper’s premises
and those of its sister TV station KTN.

Yesterday, two Armenians – whose pictures and personal information were
recently published in the press – presented themselves at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport to claim they are wealthy businessmen
legitimately seeking investment opportunities in Kenya.

Claiming they are fabulously rich and deal in gold and diamonds, they
made serious allegations against Langata MP Raila Odinga, who has
spearheaded the campaign to unmask them, some of which hinge on the
security and stability of the state. They claimed to have met Raila
and Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka and that a request was put to them
to finance an anticipated no confidence vote in parliament against the
government at a cost of 3bn shillings. One of them, who says he is a
nephew of Armenia’s president and the country’s presidential candidate,
claims to have given Raila a 1.5m dollars (105m shillings) loan.

Raila has denied all the allegations, and challenged the pair to
produce evidence of their claims.

As we have said before, the allegation that mercenaries are operating
in Kenya is a serious security issue, which should be handled as such
by the government. But since the statement was made following the
raid on The Standard and KTN premises, all we have seen is a denial
by the director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) under
which falls the dreaded Kanga Squad that carried out the midnight raid.

It is instructive that the director has not told Kenyans who the
foreigners commanding the hooded policemen, who were captured by
the closed circuit television cameras, were. He also has not told
Kenyans whether these foreigners joined the raid in an official or
personal capacity, and who was paying for their dirty work. Yesterday
the Armenians denied any link to The Standard raid. However, they
confirmed taking residence at the house in Nairobi that Raila had
pointed to. The CID boss is yet to explain under what circumstances
his officers have been visiting the house.

It is also curious that they made their claims at a selectively
convened press conference at the airport’s VIP lounge that is reserved
for senior state officials and foreign dignitaries. The lounge is
well guarded and special passes are required to access it.

On what grounds were these men allowed to hold their press conference
in this government lounge? Which government official made special
arrangements for them to use this facility?

But even more important, why would a man claiming that the two MPs
were involved in such a criminal act as seeking foreign funds to
undermine the government be allowed to leave the country, without as
much as recording a statement with the police.

We strongly believe Kenyans are being taken for a ride here. The
government must come clean on this matter, once and for all.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress