KENYAN EDITORS DATE WITH THE POLICE OVER ‘ARMENIANS’ STORY
By Dennis Itumbi
AND, South Africa
April 16 2007
Kenyan police are recording statements from Editors of a leading
Newspaper afetr the Standard in its lead story today revealed that
the government may be involved in a saga revolving around two alleged
Armenian Nationals
FOUR senior managers and Editors of a leading Kenya Daily Newspaper
are still recording statements with the Criminal Investigations sleuths
following a story published by the paper in its Monday edition alleging
that the Government had hired merecenaries to assinate a Member of
Parliament Gideon Moi.
The story attributed to one of the alleged mercenaries Artur Margayan
deported to Duabai by the Kenyan government last year after a series
of embarassing acts including an airport gun drama claimed that the
two brothers of alleged Armenian origin claimed that the brothers
had express directions from a asenior cabinet minister to assasinate
the legislator who is also a son to the immediate former President
Daniel Moi.
The newspaper did not name the cabinet minister, but said that
Artur, who called their newsroom was claiming to be in possesion of
a recording to prove the claims.
The two senior managers and two senior editors at Standard group
were summoned to CID headquarters to provide proof of the claims
saying such allegations have the potential to cause fear and anxiety
amongst Kenyans.
By the time of going to press the managers, Group CEO, John Wanyagah,
Paul Melley (Vice -Chairman) and Editors Chaacha Mwita and Kwendo
Opanga were still held up in the CID headquarters.
Earlier police had summoned the four to record statements or face
arrest.
In his press Conference, Michuki categorically denied that none of
the two deported Armenians is in the country as alleged.
The minister said the story lacked credibility and feels it is part
of a hate-campaign being driven by the paper against him.
Meanwhile, MPs from Rift Valley province – where Gedion hails from,
were in parliament buildings appealing to the government to allow the
parliamentary committee on justice and legal affairs investigate the
Armenian’s saga.
The government has declined to make public findings of a commission
appointed by the president to investigate the conduct of the deported
Armenians for security reasons.
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