Daily Nation, Kenya
June 10, 2006
Speak out on country’s security, Opposition MPs tell President
Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 6/10/2006
Opposition MPs yesterday asked President Kibaki to address the nation
on security in the country following the activities of two Armenian
brothers.
Residents of the city’s Runda estate gather outside the home of the
Artur brothers after a police raid yesterday.Photo by Joseph Mathenge
They also demanded the sacking of Internal Security minister John
Michuki for failing to guarantee the safety of the country from Mr
Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan.
The leaders, who spoke separately to the Nation, said an incident in
which the two brothers stormed the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport wielding guns must be explained by the President.
In addition, the Government should explain why it allowed the two
foreigners, who were two months ago accused by some politicians of
being mercenaries, to possess guns, fake number plates and to import
cars.
Protecting Armenians
Opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, Liberal Democratic Party chairman
David Musila and secretary-general Joseph Kamotho, Orange Democratic
Movement spokesman Mutula Kilonzo and MPs Paul Muite, William Ruto,
William ole Ntimama and Charles Keter, want the Government to explain
who was protecting the Armenians.
Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargsyan should face criminal charges in court
alongside their Kenyan accomplices, the leaders said.
Attempts to deport them, they added, meant the Government was hiding
something sinister.
Said Mr Kilonzo: “These people must be arraigned in a court here for
committing an offence on Kenyan soil. They should not be deported.”
Mr Musila and Mr Kilonzo said the foreigners should have been taken
to court to explain why they allegedly had a GK vehicle, diplomatic
and government car number plates, 15 vehicles, and why they assaulted
Customs officials.
Mr Kilonzo said the two men could not be prosecuted anywhere else and
deporting them would merely be giving them safe passage.
Mr Muite said the Government was in a rush to deport the two Armenian
brothers to cover up for their activities, and accused top government
officials who were the brothers’ “god fathers and mothers” of being
behind a “stage-managed deportation”.
Mr Muite, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and
Administration, said: “We have learnt with regret that there are
plans to deport the two, and if that happens, it will amount to
obstruction of justice,” he told reporters at Parliament Buildings.
Mr Muite warned top officials that one day they would be called to
account for their actions, saying: “It does not matter how high up
those involved are, justice will prevail,” he said.
The conduct of the Armenians, said Mr Muite, was an affront to the
sovereignty and dignity of Kenyans.
The MP praised the commissioner of police, Major-General Hussein Ali,
for ordering the raid into the Runda home of the two brothers.
The leaders wanted to know how foreigners could force their way into
the country, threatening junior government officers and sneaking in
uncustomed goods, in total disregard of the law.
The leaders termed the action at the airport by the two men a threat
to national security and which must be explained by the President
since his Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, had done
nothing.
If there was no clear explanation, Kenyans would believe that the
country was under the rule of foreign mercenaries, they added. Mr
Musila said: “The President swore to defend the Constitution of the
country. We are left with no alternative but to ask him to give the
public an explanation as to why the security of this country has been
compromised.”
Mr Musila, Mr Kamotho and Mr Ruto said the Orange Democratic Movement
had questioned the presence of the Armenians but the Government had
dismissed them.
Mr Kamotho said: “We are now vindicated… we issued a statement as
ODM saying these people were up to no good… Kenyans saw them
forcing contraband goods into the country.”
He recalled that the Government defended the Armenians when he asked
a question in Parliament about their business in the country.
Mr Kilonzo added: “All this vindicates us in the Opposition that
there are mercenaries in the country who are here with the knowledge
of the Government.”
Mr Musila said they expected heads to roll and Kenyans would be
watching President Kibaki’s actions keenly in the next few days.
Mr Kenyatta said the activities of the two brothers could no longer
be tolerated.
Speaking at the Garden Hotel in Machakos, shortly before the start of
a Kanu workshop, Mr Kenyatta said the scuffle at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on Thursday night was enough justification that
the foreigners were engaged in questionable activities.
The leaders said it was a serious breach of security to allow
foreigners to threaten government officials meant to ensure the
country’s safety.
Law Society of Kenya council member Evans Monari said it was illegal
to deport the two brothers without first charging them.
Deportation should come after they have served a sentence, if
convicted, he said.
Reported by David Mugonyi, Tony Kago and Bob Odalo
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
