KENYA: BILLIONS AT RISK AS 18 EU MISSIONS DISCUSS SECURITY BREACH
Cyrus Kinyungu, Benson Kathuri, Joseph Murimi and Noel Wandera
The Standard, Kenya
June 20 2006
The Government was last night under intense local and international
pressure to absolve itself from blame over the security lapse at Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) almost two weeks ago.
At risk is the Sh50 billion tourism industry, the multi-billion
shilling airline industry and up to Sh29 billion in budgetary support.
In question is the integrity of Kenya’s law-enforcement institutions
and the Government’s commitment to international security standards.
Eighteen European Union (EU) heads of mission meeting in Nairobi
on Monday discussed and expressed "concern" over the incident’s
implications on the tourism and airline industry.
Although they have not collectively decided on when or how to engage
the Government over the issue, Britain, Germany and the US (which is
not an EU country) have separately asked the Government to explain
reports of the security breach.
List of witnesses
At the same time, two parliamentary watchdog committees released
names of those they would question over the Armenian saga.
They include State House officials, senior civil servants, Government
ministers and MPs, business people, an activist and Opposition
politicians.
Among them are Internal Security minister John Michuki, Kenya
Airports Authority (KAA) managing director George Muhoho, State House
Comptroller Hyslop Ipu, Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali,
businessman Kamlesh Pattni, Othaya Narc activist Mary Wambui and MPs
Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Saying the security breach at Kenya’s premier airport on Thursday,
June 8 – during which two foreigners drew guns on Customs officials
– was an indicator of a bigger problem in the country’s security,
Roland Hauser said the EU viewed it as a threat to their citizens
visiting Kenya.
"Security for all passengers and airlines is important for Kenyans,
the tourism industry and the Kenyan economy as a whole," Hauser noted,
adding: "We want tourists from our countries to come to Kenya because
it is a beautiful country. But on the other hand, we need to have
assurances that they are safe."
Incident might affect tourism
Hauser is the chairman of the EU Heads of Mission in the country.
He told The Standard: "The security lapse at the airport is of concern
to EU countries as it is to other countries. We want to be part of
the solution and not the problem. Kenya stands to lose if tourists
stop visiting the country due to security fears. It is not in our
interest for this to happen."
Germany had earlier in the day turned the heat on the Government
over the Artur brothers’ saga when its ambassador, Walter J. Lindner,
demanded an explanation over the airport incident.
Lindner said his Government was concerned about the security of German
tourists in Kenya and wondered how two foreigners could be allowed
to disrupt operations at an airport of the calibre of JKIA.
"Of course there are (other) questions such as how the (alleged
Armenians) got their security passes and how they entered high security
airport areas armed."
Lindner was speaking at the Treasury during the signing of a Sh5.6
billion agreement in which Germany will support social services,
including free primary education and water services.
House committees
Lindner, however, expressed doubt that his Government would disburse
any further funds in budgetary support: "It is possible to say we are
not going to spend the money now because the two – let me not mention
their names – have been in the country and acting (in a scary manner)."
He was referring to Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan who were
deported early this month after assaulting and threatening to shoot
Customs officials at JKIA.
Two house committees announced that they would question Immigration
minister Gedion Konchella, Pattni, suspended CID Director Joseph Kamau,
President Kibaki’s strategic adviser Stanley Murage, Ipu, Michuki,
Muhoho, Wambui and her daughter Winfred Wangui.
Also to be questioned are Raila, Kalonzo, Ali and Nairobi Provincial
Criminal Investigations Officer Isaiah Osugo.
Others are Customs officers, employees of the Runda residence of the
Arturs, Baktash Akasha, suspended KAA deputy managing director Naomi
Cidi, directors and shareholders of Kensington Holdings Ltd and Kenya
Ports Authority managing director Abdala Mwaruwa.
Western source markets
Making the announcement at County Hall, Nairobi, on Monday,
the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Local
Authorities, Mr Ramadhan Kajembe, said the team was inviting anyone
with information on the two Armenians to volunteer it. Kajembe’s
committee will work closely with the Paul Muite-led Parliamentary
Committee on the Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs.
Their sittings begin on Tuesday. Investigations by The Standard reveal
that nearly 30 per cent of Kenya’s tourism earnings are from three key
Western source markets that have expressed concern over the security
of their nationals visiting Kenya through JKIA.
Germany, Britain and US together contributed some Sh14 billion to
the tourism kitty last year. In 2005, over 230,000 out of a total
683,000 international tourists came to Kenya, helping the tourism
sector contribute Sh48.9 billion. About 42 per cent of the 75,000
Germans who visited Kenya last year came through JKIA, while the US
visitors topped 73,000.
Britain, which has traditionally been Kenya’s leading market, had their
share of arrivals up 33 per cent. Contacted, the Kenya Tourist Board
(KTB) chairman, Jake Grieves-Cook agreed that the issue of security
at the airport was paramount.
"I am sure there will be lessons learnt just like anywhere else in
the world," said Grieves-Cook.
Travel advisories
However, he did not foresee any drastic action being taken, such as
issuance of travel advisories, "as already, the people concerned have
been dealt with."
However, admitting that the EU was concerned about the security
situation, Hauser was non-committal on what action it would take.
"It is true that the issue of the security lapse at the airport
was one of the items on our agenda during today’s ordinary monthly
discussions," Hauser said soon after the heads of mission meeting at
Muthaiga country club, Nairobi.
"But we’ve not decided on how to engage the Government about it."
Among countries represented at Monday’s meeting were Britain, Germany,
Austria, Poland, France, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Greece, and Romania.
Hauser said EU and the Kenyan Government had agreed to be raising
issues of "mutual concern" to both parties directly and not through
the Press.
It is on this understanding based on the Cotonou Agreement that the
embassies will engage the Government, Hauser explained. However,
he said, issues of great concern to the public are raised in public
through the Press.
After The Standard Group raid in March, the EU countries publicly
condemned the Government’s action and demanded a commitment that such
an incident would not happen again.