Standard, Kenya
March 23 2006

Kenya: I’m Still in Town, Says Armenian

Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi

Artur Margaryan called The Standard Newsroom on Wednesday to say he
was still in the country.

“I am here in Kenya. I have not gone out as you have said. I am here
and I will call the Press later over the same,” he said.

Margaryan said he was in the country to stay and asked the media to
be fair in its reporting. He, however, did not disclose his
whereabouts. The Armenian national has kept a low profile since last
Monday and efforts to reach him have been futile.

On Monday, a woman picked up his mobile phone when we called and said
it was a wrong number. Margaryan called our offices at about 3pm on
Wednesday on the same mobile number, saying he had not left the
country. He said he would call an international Press conference in
his house, but had not done so by evening.

Margaryan said he was an investor with many interests in the country
and that he could only leave “for urgent business” and come back. On
Tuesday, the man at the centre of the mercenary saga was missing in
his house and a guard on duty said he had not seen him since Monday
morning.

“I have not seen him since yesterday. Why can’t you call him on his
mobile phone because you have been coming here?” asked the guard.

One of Margaryan’s lawyers, who asked not to be named, claimed the
Armenian had decided to keep a low profile and all matters pertaining
him would henceforth be handled by a Public Relations firm. The
lawyer said they were still sourcing for a firm that would handle the
work effectively. He did not explain where his client was, but was
categorical that ” he was still around”.

Margaryan was on Monday seen in Industrial Area handling electronic
goods at about noon. The decision by the foreigner to keep a low
profile coincided with a seven-day ultimatum issued by MPs Fred Gumo
and Reuben Ndolo that he leaves the country or he be forced to.

The two had last week stormed Margaryan’s house and demanded that he
leaves terming him a security threat to the locals. They were
supposed to return and forcefully evict him on Tuesday, but they did
not show up.

Police investigations into the saga have not found any link so far
but authorities say they are still pursuing the matter.

The mercenary controversy was kicked off by Langata MP Raila Odinga,
who claimed Margaryan and his brother Sargasyan were mercenaries for
hire and linked them to the raids on the Standard Group offices.

The two brothers later showed up at the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport VIP lounge in controversial circumstances and denied the
mercenary claims.

Police investigating the claims have since questioned Raila and his
Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka, who the Armenians said had
asked them for money.