Uproar in House over Armenians
BY EDWIN MUTAI

Kenya Times, Kenya
June 17 2006

PARLIAMENT early this week was in uproar, accusing the government
of attempting to cover up the true circumstances surrounding the
stay and deportation of Brothers Artur arising from the mayhem the
Armenians had caused at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In a motion of adjournment, legislators from both sides of the House
accused trying to cover up real issues by going for "small fish"
instead going for the big ones implicated in the fiasco. They also
trashed the commission of inquiry set up by President Kibaki to look
into the matter.

Agitated MPs also faulted the deportation of the duo whose activities
in the country remain shrouded in a mystery even as it emerged that
they jetted out of the country in a business class flight headed for
the United Arab Emirates contrary to legal procedure. Parliament also
heard that their passports were never stamped.

The debate under the motion of adjournment saw Leader of the Official
Opposition Uhuru Kenyatta rally legislators to lash out at the
government’s failure to protect the integrity, security and dignity
of the sovereign republic.

Internal security John Michuki’s bid to exonerate the government from
any dealings or protection of the controversial aliens was met with
outright rejection even as a section of MPs booed him. Efforts by
Ministers Martha Karua (Justice and Internal Affairs) and her Trade
counterpart Mukhisa Kituyi to absolve the State from alleged cover
fizzled in rejection from legislators who accused the President of
allowing the country to be "governed by foreigners as the Police
force remained divided down m the middle."

Kenyatta in moving the motion charged that the security , integrity,
dignity, honour and sovereignty of an independent self governing
nation is at great stake and scorn among the community of nations. He
put questions which were unanswered by Michuki as he hit out at the
government for allowing the foreigners to access unrestricted security
passes at the airport, brandish weapons and secure the release of
unchecked luggage.

He asked Michuki to tell Kenyans the relationship between the
Standard/KTN raid which he owned up to have ordered carried out and
the Artur brothers possession of the Quick Response Unit uniforms,
caps and hoods which were recovered from their Runda residence.

The Gatundu South MP demanded to be told why guns belonging to
security forces, Identity Cards identifying the Armenians as assistant
commissioners of police, Kenyan passports, government, diplomatic and
civilian car plate numbers among others, were giving to them and who
gave them and for what reasons.

"We must ventilate the anger of Kenyans on this Armenians issue who
have insulted us. We as a House have a responsibility to restore the
integrity, dignity, honour and sovereignty of our people is this
government has failed. We are not a banana republic," charged an
emotional Kenyatta.

Michuki in his ministerial statement narrated the Armenian fiasco that
has been raging on since March this year, saying that the attention
of government was attracted to them when questions were raised on
their motives after being alleged to be mercenaries whose mission
was to assassinate political leaders.

He said investigation was launched by the police during which several
leaders and the Armenians were interrogated and statements recorded
and with the assistance of Interpol, the foreigners were found to be
in the country legally as businessmen.

The Minister said the two Armenians were arrested on Friday last week
on his instructions after they wrecked havoc at JKIA the previous
evening. But which MPs were not convinced.

In the search undertaken by police, Michuki said two forged passports
and other identification cards, 13 vehicles, three vehicle plate
numbers for GK, Diplomatic and civilian, three bullet proof vests
and facial masks were recovered.

After the find, the government reached a conclusion that Margaryan and
Sargasyan were a threat to national security and therefore should be
expelled from Kenya and that the immigration minister moved to deport
and declare the duo persona non grata.

Legislators Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu Rural), Joseph Nkaissery (Kajiado
Central), Billow Kerrow (Mandera Central), Paul Muite (Kabete),
Orwa Ojode (Ndhiwa), Moses Wetangula (Sirisia), David Musila (Mwingi
South), Charles Kilonzo (Yatta), Kirugi M’Mukindia (Imenti Central),
William Ole Ntimama (Narok South) and nominated MP Amina Abdallah
accused the State of cover up and demanded the sacking of government
officials involved in the controversy.

"Mr Speaker, the highest echelons of this country is compromised
and it can not, therefore, be its own judge. We demand independent
investigations and the President must come out and sack these
ministers," charged Nyong’o. Nkaissery termed it an act of terrorism
and that "a government that defends defilement of national security
has no place governing."

Said M’Mukindia; "I am ashamed that the respectable and well known
John Michuki would cower in front of foreigners. That somebody coming
from Kangema in Murang’a would crawl in front of foreigners is a big
shame and the whole country has been let down by this government."

Muite accused the government of protecting the deported due and
dismissed the inquiry set by the State as escapist and elusive since
"who doesn’t know that the proposed chair Kiruki, a former Police
Commissioner has no face before Kenyans. He was himself sacked as a
Police Commissioner and there cannot be any impartiality.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress