RIFT IN POLICE COULD HINDER THE PROBE
Story By Stephen Muiruri
Daily Nation, Kenya
March 16 2006
Divisions among the country’s top police chiefs are likely to hamper
investigations into the activities of two men who claim to be Armenians
and who are at the centre of mercenary claims.
The investigators are torn between police commissioner Mohammed
Hussein Ali and CID chief Joseph Kamau, who fell out after the raid
on the Standard Group offices on March 2.
Mr Isaiah Osugo, the Nairobi deputy provincial CID chief, is
spearheading the investigations into claims by Lang’ata MP Raila
Odinga that the two men, who claim to be brothers – Artur Margaryan
and Artur Sargsyan – are mercenaries.
Business opportunities
The investigators are also trying to verify claims by the brothers
that they are investors exploring business opportunities in Kenya.
Mr Osugo was appointed the chief investigator on March 8 by Maj-Gen
Ali after Mr Odinga visited him at his Vigilance House office to
complain about the presence of the two foreigners in Kenya.
After the meeting, Mr Odinga told reporters that he had informed
Maj-Gen Ali that Mr Kamau knew the house in Runda where the two
brothers were staying and was aware of the protection being offered
to them by GSU officers.
But Mr Kamau dismissed the claims as “utter rubbish” and questioned
the motive of the meeting between the Maj-Gen Ali and the Lang’ata MP.
Chain of command
Yesterday, police sources told the Nation that although Mr Osugo
is supposed to report to Mr Kamau through his immediate boss, Mr
Sammy Githui, that chain of command does not apply in the case of
the mercenaries investigations.
When appointing Mr Osugo, Maj-Gen Ali reportedly ordered him to report
any findings directly to him.
On the same day Mr Osugo was appointed to investigate the saga, Mr
Kamau issued a statement through CID spokesman Gideon Kibunjah and
said there were no mercenaries in Kenya.
“We therefore take this early opportunity to dispel those baseless,
wild and unsubstantiated claims. There are no mercenaries operating
in Kenya,” said the statement.
It asked politicians “to behave responsibly and exercise maturity in
their public utterances and avoid populist and alarming statements”.
Relations between Maj-Gen Ali and his CID chief have been frosty since
Mr Kamau kept him in the dark on the Standard raid, even though it
was his own officers who led the attack.
The attack was carried out by an elite squad directly answerable to
Mr Kamau.
Mr Odinga has insisted that the two foreigners were linked to the raid.
The rift between the two top policemen reached its climax on Monday
last week when Maj-Gen Ali attempted to sack Mr Kamau.
National Security minister John Michuki intervened by promptly
informing State House, which ordered him to ensure that did not happen.
Questions being raised are whether Mr Osugo could investigate his
CID boss and ask him to record a statement on the claims made against
him by Mr Odinga.
Mr Kamau has not been questioned. However, he has said he is willing
to record a statement if requested.
Key questions Mr Osugo is supposed to seek answers to include:
Do Narc activist Mary Wambui and her daughter Winnie have any dealings
with Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan?
What does CID chief Kamau know about the foreigners and has he ever
visited their Runda house or offered them protection as alleged by
Mr Odinga?
What does State House know about the two men and have they ever
visited State House?
Are Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan investors or in Kenya on a dangerous
mission?
Who in the Government allowed them to use cars with GK number plates,
and who offered them police protection?
Why do they drive around Nairobi with the number plates on their cars
covered in full view of traffic police?
Who facilitated their coming to Kenya and how long have they been here?
Did they participate in the Standard raid as claimed by Mr Odinga?
Who ordered the police, headed by Runda police station boss Jeremiah
Lang’at, to leave the Runda house and return to their base on Monday,
when they went to provide security to Mr Osugo’s team?
Are top government officials keen on the truth on the real identity
and the mission of the two foreigners coming out?