REPORT FAULTS GOVT DEPARTMENTS
By Standard Reporters
Standard, Kenya
Aug. 31, 2006
The Kiruki Commission report exposes incompetence in some key
Government departments.
The Commission criticises the Immigration for the way it handled the
Artur brothers’ applications to do business in the country.
Sources say the committee made several recommendations, including
overhauling the department, which is accused of giving leeway to
criminals to enter the country and do business.
It also notes several irregularities in the deportation of Artur
Margaryan Artur Sargasyan, and their two Tanzanian accomplices.
Prohibited immigrants
The report notes that the Arturs could still return to Kenya because
their passports were never stamped to indicate they had been deported.
When applying for entry permits, the Arturs did not give all the
required details in their application forms- such as their photographs
and addresses.
Sources say the Commission recommended that before deportations,
deportees’ photographs and fingerprints should be taken.
Deportees’ passports should be stamped "prohibited immigrants" and
their particulars circulated to Interpol, says the report.
The report also recommends that Kenyan visas should be upgraded to
tamper-proof ones. It notes that visas in use are "wet stamp", which
could be easily produced by criminals.
Forged documents
During its public sittings in Nairobi, the Commission was told that
some foreigners were issued with Kenyan visas on arrival at airports.
The report recommends that such visas should be issued by
professionally trained officers in Kenyan missions abroad.
Also put under the spotlight is the Registrar of Companies department,
with recommendations that the office overhauls its systems.
During sittings, the Commission heard that forged documents were used
to register the two companies associated with the Arturs.
The office is asked to enforce a requirement to de-register any company
found to have been fraudulently registered. To protect the public
from dealing with shadowy firms, regulations on forming companies
should be published, the report is further quoted.
Surveillance cameras
It recommends that the companies’ registry be computerised "as a
matter of urgency". Staff should also be punished for misconduct.
It further recommends that the area for conducting searches for
company names be fitted with surveillance cameras.
It also recommends that the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) scraps the
office of deputy managing director and re-organises its top management.
Sources say the commission’s report falls short of terming the post
illegal, adding that it is not recognised by the KAA Act.
Ms Naomi Cidi held the position before President Kibaki suspended
her on June 12. The report also terms the position a burden to KAA.
Procedure for issuing passes
During its public hearings in July, the commission was told that a
deputy director held the responsibility of issuing access passes to
deserving persons.
It was told that the Arturs and their associates were irregularly
issued passes to all airports. The pink passes allowed them access
to aircraft, posing a serious threat to security, especially in the
wake of the terrorism threat.
However, Cidi denied the claims at the time insisting that it was
her boss, Mr George Muhoho, who issued the Arturs with passes.
In its report, the commission recommends that the procedure for
issuing passes should be overhauled.
But the report also urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify
to its protocol officers who should be accorded VIP treatment.
Managing security
The commission also recommends that the police force be subjected to
a management audit.
It criticises Police Commissioner, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, for ignoring
the chain of command. The audit, those privy to the report say,
should find out whether the leadership structure is up to the task
of managing security.
The commission is said to have demanded that redundant structures be
done away with and the competence of police officers be scrutinised.
The commission accuses Ali of ignoring his immediate juniors and
dealing with those at lower ranks, such as the Deputy Provincial
Criminal Investigation Officer, Mr Isaiah Osugo.
Ali’s decision was allegedly interpreted by the mass media as evidence
of hostile relations between him and Mr Joseph Kamau, the CID director.
Interpol section
Another concern raised by the report was that information received on
activities of the Armenian brothers from Interpol in Yerevan, Armenia,
was never shared among different formations of the police force.
The report recommends that the Kenya Police Interpol section be
overhauled.
The commission was, according to those privy to the report, perturbed
by the lack of commitment among police officers deployed at the
airport on June 8.
The commissioners are said to have reported that police officers on
duty on that day, apart from one CID corporal, failed to assist a
customs officer who was assaulted by Mr Artur Margaryan.
The commission is said to have observed that the officers showed a
lot of lethargy, ineptitude and recklessness.
Those privy to the report also said that the commission found it
strange that the Artur brothers were not disarmed when they brandished
weapons at members of the public.
The commission is said to have recommended that changes be made in
the police force.