MINISTERS DIFFER OVER DEPORTATION DECISION
Reports by David Mugonyi, Jillo Kadida and Michael Mugwang’a
Story By Sunday Nation Team
Daily Nation , Kenya
June 11 2006
The Cabinet appeared split yesterday over the decision by the
Government to deport the two Armenian brothers.
Some ministers criticised the Government for failing to charge Mr
Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan with any crimes.
Two ministers even differed in a public function on the decision to
deport the two and their four associates.
Also joining in the condemnation was the Law Society of Kenya which
said the two brothers should have been charged in a court of law for
assaulting custom officials and sneaking into the country uncustomed
goods.
Defence minister Njenga Karume and his Youth Affairs counterpart
Mohammed Kuti disagreed in public over the handling of the matter.
Mr Karume said the Government was justified to do whatever it felt
was right and did not need to explain its actions to anyone.
“People do not understand that the Government can do anything with
anyone and you do not have to understand,” the minister said when
asked if it was right to deport the two before taking them to court.
Kabete MP Paul Muite said Mr Karume’s comment simply worsens the
situation for the Government.
Dr Kuti said the two brothers, just like any other person living in
Kenya and who commits a crime, should be subject to the country’s law.
“We need to get rid of these two individuals as fast as we can. But
the bottom line is that due process of the law has to be followed,”
said Dr Kuti.
The two ministers were speaking after presiding over the opening
session of The Careers Workshop for secondary school students in Kiambu
district at Kanunga High School in Mr Karume’s Kiambaa constituency.
Planning minister Henry Obwocha said although he had not followed
the incident closely, he believed in the rule of law.
He told the Sunday Nation: “In my view the law should have taken
its course.”
And Local Government minister Musikari Kombo also condemned the action
by the Artur brothers who threatened airport staff.
Mr Kombo said it was sad that foreigners or even Kenyans could go to
the extent of drawing guns on government officers.
Immigration assistant minister Anania Mwaboza laid blame on the Office
of the President.
He said it was the OP which should answer any questions regarding
the presence and activities of the Armenian brothers, including the
breach of security.
Mr Mwaboza also faulted the decision to deport Mr Margaryan and Mr
Sargsyan, saying they should have been subjected to the full force
of law and charged in court with a criminal offence.
But the Kenya Airports Authority declined to comment on why the
foreigners were given unfettered access to any airport in the country.
Personal assistant to KAA managing director George Muhoho, Mr Dominic
Ngige, said the matter was being handled by the police.
Kanu secretary general William Ruto asked Mr Muhoho to explain to
Kenyans where the Artur brothers got the security passes.
Kisumu Town East MP Gor Sunguh asked President Kibaki to resign for
failing to protect Kenyans, including civil servants.
LSK chairman Tom Ojienda said the Government’s deportation the Armenian
brothers at the centre of mercenary claims violates the rule of law.
The law of the country must apply to anyone who commits an offence
unless he or she enjoys diplomatic immunity, he said.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims urged the Government to institute
an urgent public inquiry into the presence and activities of the
brothers.
The council said it was time the Government came clean on the presence
of the two and what connections they had with the top leadership in
the country.
Former Director of Public Prosecution Philip Murgor said the chaos
caused by the two Armenian brothers at the JKIA was a true reflection
that the administration of justice and law enforcement was in the
hands of people who are totally compromised by dubious characters
behind the Armenian saga.
He said the Police Commissioner Major Gen Mohammed Ali, CID boss
Joseph Kamau, Internal Security minister John Michuki and Immigrations
minister Gideon Konchella ought to be sacked for failing to advise
President Kibaki appropriately on the matter.