The Nation, Kenya
June 17 2006
58 passes are cancelled in Armenians row
Story by PATRICK NZIOKA and BERNARD NAMUNANE
Publication Date: 6/17/2006
All the 58 airport security passes that were irregularly issued in
the Armenian brothers’ saga have been cancelled.
"Disciplinary action will be taken against all those who violated
the rules in issuing the passes," Transport assistant minister Cecily
Mbarire said yesterday.
A committee appointed by President Kibaki to investigate an incident
in which the Artur brothers breached security measures at the Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport is expected to point out those involved.
The assistant minister, who is in charge of civil aviation at the
ministry, said more people would be affected once the committee
completes its work.
She defended the Government against claims that only junior officers
were punished.
"The committee will be able to come up with recommendations on who
is responsible for disciplinary action to be taken," she said after
a tour of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority premises at the airport.
Initial investigations had revealed that a senior Kenya Airports
Authority official issued 41 security passes, including those held by
the Armenian brothers – Mr Artur Margaryan and Mr Artur Sargasyan –
and their accomplices. The two have since been deported.
A list obtained by the Nation last week indicated that Mr Margaryan
was among 184 people, including politicians and directors of companies,
who had unrestricted access to all the airports in Kenya.
The assistant minister denied claims that the British high commission
had protested to the Kenyan Government following the security breach
at country’s main airport.
She added that such a protest note had not reached her ministry
"if indeed it was delivered to any arm of the Government".
Ideally, a protest note of that nature would reach her ministry as
it was the parent ministry in charge of airports, said Ms Mbarire.
The two controversial Armenian brothers were deported following an
attack on a customs officer at the airport as they resisted attempts
to inspect bags of an accomplice, who had arrived from Dubai.
Guns were drawn inside the airport’s arrivals hall, where the customs
officer was assaulted.
But Ms Mbarire said the incident took place at the airport’s parking
lot. She further assured users of the airport that it was secure.
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Two parliamentary committees will jointly seek to unravel the story
behind the deported Armenians.
The national security and administration of justice and legal affairs
committees ended their tussle yesterday and agreed to work as a unit –
in public interest.
There was a stand-off between the two committees early in the week
over which had the right to investigate the saga surrounding the entry,
stay and deportation of the Armenians.
They met at County Hall in Nairobi yesterday and resolved to launch
the investigations – which touch on senior members of the Government –
as a unit.
Said Mr Paul Muite, the chairman of the committee on justice: "The
issues relating to the two Armenians are cross-cutting the mandates
of the two committees. We have agreed that the best way forward is
to act as a team in carrying out the investigations."
