The Nation, Kenya
April 21 2007
Minister asked for cash from Arturs: MP
Story by ODHIAMBO ORLALE and OWINO OPONDO
Publication Date: 4/21/2007
An MP on Thursday accused Internal Security minister John Michuki of
demanding Sh210 million as protection fees from the Artur brothers.
Mr Orwa Ojodeh (Ndhiwa, Narc) told Parliament that Mr Michuki met Mr
Artur Magaryan and Mr Artur Sagsyan at his Windsor Golf and Country
Club, where a plot to assassinate Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi was
allegedly discussed.
But an attempt by the MP to table a report purportedly withheld from
the public by the Government was rejected on the grounds that it was
not authenticated.
Mr Ojodeh said the Kiruki Commission of Inquiry report, like all
others, were never signed but were usually accompanied by a covering
letter which was signed. He presented a photocopy of a letter that he
said had accompanied the report.
But Deputy Speaker David Musila rejected the document after perusing
it saying parliamentary rules bar members from producing unsigned
documents.
Tabling CD
Mr Ojodeh was undeterred as he kicked off debate on the foreigners by
tabling a CD of the alleged conversation between the Internal
Security minister and the two Armenians. He was applauded by the
Opposition but jeered by the Government side.
Later, two Cabinet ministers rose on points of order to defend their
colleague and demanded that Mr Ojodeh be barred from breaking House
rules by imputing improper motives on their colleague without moving
a substantive motion.
Education minister George Saitoti and his Water counterpart, Mr Mutua
Katuku, were supported by Energy assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri,
who demanded that the rules be upheld.
Responding on behalf of the Government, Internal Security assistant
minister Joseph Kingi said the Kiruki report will not be released to
the public due to security considerations.
In the Arturs’ case, MPs were told, some findings of the Kiruki team
could jeopardise State security.
That is the law
"That is the law, and we must live with it. You can change it if you
so wish," Mr Kingi said.
Reminded by nominated MP Mutula Kilonzo that there was a precedent
through a court ruling that compelled the findings of the Goldenberg
Commission to be made public, Mr Kingi said: "Yes, you may go to
court to get similar orders".
Earlier, Mr Ojodeh had caused uproar when he said he had a copy of
the Kiruki report.
He said: "When you read the report there is no security issue there
to bar it from being made public".
An attempt by Mr Kiunjuri to demand that the MP substantiates his
claim was in vain.
Mr Kiunjuri had also demanded to be told why Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga
(Narc) and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka did not give
evidence to the Kiruki Commission "yet the Arturs confessed they had
given them two millions shillings."
His comments invited boos from the Opposition side, and foot-thumping
on the Government benches.