State protecting duo, says ODM
By David Ochami & Benson Amollo
Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006
ORANGE Democratic Movement (ODM) yesterday released details of what it
claimed demonstrate deeper Government involvement in the activities and
protection of the two Armenians associated with mercenary activities.
The dossier, released by Emuhaya MP Kenneth Marende, is based on
statements taken by Nairobi deputy PCIO Isaiah Osugo from Langata
MP Raila Odinga and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka on
Wednesday and private investigations.
But Government spokesman Alfred Mutua denied this and said the
Armenians are innocent investors who will be investigated if need
arises.
Mutua said at his weekly press briefings that the Government is
undertaking comprehensive investigations into all the allegations
and would interview more people alongside Kalonzo and Raila.
He confirmed that the two brothers were issued with permits to invest
in Kenya in December 2005.
“The two individuals do not and have never worked for the Government
of Kenya nor undertaken any business with or for the government of
Kenya,” said Mutua.
ODM claims State House was sucked into a conspiracy with the foreigners
late December last year who were then secretly offered full security
details.
The two, Artur Sargysyan and Artur Margary are alleged to have been
involved in the raid at the KTN studio at I&M Building, and the
Standard printing press at Likoni Road, industrial area, on March 2.
Marende’s statement, read in the presence of Odinga and Musyoka,
also demonstrated that more other foreigners, among them Tanzanians,
including a woman identified only as Shifana, have been hired by the
Government to do its dirty work.
The Tanzanians are identified only as Robert and Julius.
The statement also indicated that the role the police had played in
their protection and concealment of facts goes higher into State House.
Apart from protection, Marende said that 13 cars and other state
largesse have been placed at the foreigners’ disposal.
It reinforces ODM’s allegations that Monday’s press conference at
the JKIA where the foreigners claimed Odinga and Musyoka had sought
their help to bring down the Kibaki regime was stage managed by the
government to hide its role in the saga and divert attention from
the Anglo Leasing corruption.
Marende claimed the Armenians, two Tanzanians and the woman were
issued police certificates and guns by a CID officer, which they used
to plan the raids on the Standard.
They surveyed the Standard’s I&M Building and the newspaper’s press
in Nairobi’s Industrial area before making the attack.
Mr Margaryan commanded the March 2 raids which, according to the
statement also involved the Tanzanians and Ms Shifana, who then carried
away computers in cars registered as: KAQ 010W, KAU 838Y (white Lexus)
and KAP 448Z , a blue Mitsubishi and KAR 453H, a green Toyota Prado.
The blue Mitsubishi pick up was later used to ferry the foreigners to
Runda and later transport the vandalised computers to KICC on March 3.
The MP also said that the following cars have been availed to the
foreigners:
– KAH980M, a blue Mercedes Benz 320.
-KAS 501S also a Mercedes Benz.
-KAQ010W and KAU 838Y, both white Lexus
-KAT 333J, a red Mitsubishi lancer.
-KAJ 333P, a white Volvo.
-KAR453H, a green Toyota Prado.
-KAU 801P a grey Landrover Discovery.
-KAT 285Y, a blue Peugoet 406 saloon car.
-GK A333G, a grey met Mercedes Benz.
-GK A222H a white Subaru.
-KAS 847F, a blue Mercedes Benz
-KAQ 215J, a blue Subaru and
-KAP 448Z, a blue Mitsubishi.
The ODM also claimed that the foreigners were driven to the JKIA
press conference in a GK car registered as GK A333G and left in a
KAQ 215 Subaru. ODM then claimed that the foreigners are protected
by presidential guards. “…Two officers from the presidential
escort unit (have been)…deployed as bodyguard and driver to the
foreigners.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress