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MEMBERS TRADE ACCUSATIONS OVER FOREIGNERS
Story by NATION Reporter /Parliament
Publication Date: 4/5/2006
Daily Nation, Kenya
April 5 2006
Accusations and counter accusations dominated a question on two
foreigners at the centre of mercenary allegations.
MPs accused the Government of attempting to shield the activities
of the foreigners, while the State accused some of them of wanting
Mr Artur Sargsyan and Mr Artur Margaryan out of the country because
they owed them money.
The question by Mr Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya, Narc) saw tempers rise
as the MP accused Office of the President assistant minister Mirugi
Kariuki of being involved in the cover up.
Mr Kariuki said he took exception to the allegations, adding that he
had nothing to hide on the identity of the two foreigners.
He also asked MPs to be careful in the use of the word "mercenaries",
saying the issue was the subject of a court case.
Last week, the question on the foreigners could not be answered after
it became apparent that no government minister was prepared to give
an answer.
The question was first put to the ministry of Foreign Affairs, but
the minister instead said it should be directed to the minister in
charge of Internal Security.
But when the question appeared again on the Order Paper, it had been
directed to the Immigration ministry.
But there was more confusion when Immigration assistant minister
Ananiah Mwaboza said he could not answer the question, because the
right ministry to answer it was the Office of the President.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua ended the
confusion when she assured the House that the question would be
answered this week.
Yesterday, Mr Kariuki said the Armenian government had confirmed that
the two men were its citizens, holding Armenian passports.
The two had valid work permits, and had never requested state security
as had been alleged by some MPs.
But the assistant minister was booed by the Opposition when he
said allegations of using state resources by the two foreigners
were unfounded.
They were involved in consultancy, marketing, development and finance,
he went on.
And they had no criminal records in Armenia, said Mr Kariuki.
Mr Mirugi also tabled copies of passports of the two foreigners,
Kenya Revenue Authority documents and certificates of incorporation
of the companies they owned.
Mr Davies Nakitare (Saboti, Narc) asked the Government to be
transparent and come clean on the mercenary issue.
Mr Kamotho demanded to know why Mr Margaryan had taken Lang'ata MP
Raila Odinga to court on a "fictitious case."
Mr Odinga said he was yet to get court summons after he was sued by
the foreigners.
Mr Kariuki said Mr Odinga should wait to argue his case in court
instead of using the floor of the House to do so.
Story by NATION Reporter /Parliament
Publication Date: 4/5/2006
Daily Nation, Kenya
April 5 2006
Accusations and counter accusations dominated a question on two
foreigners at the centre of mercenary allegations.
MPs accused the Government of attempting to shield the activities
of the foreigners, while the State accused some of them of wanting
Mr Artur Sargsyan and Mr Artur Margaryan out of the country because
they owed them money.
The question by Mr Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya, Narc) saw tempers rise
as the MP accused Office of the President assistant minister Mirugi
Kariuki of being involved in the cover up.
Mr Kariuki said he took exception to the allegations, adding that he
had nothing to hide on the identity of the two foreigners.
He also asked MPs to be careful in the use of the word "mercenaries",
saying the issue was the subject of a court case.
Last week, the question on the foreigners could not be answered after
it became apparent that no government minister was prepared to give
an answer.
The question was first put to the ministry of Foreign Affairs, but
the minister instead said it should be directed to the minister in
charge of Internal Security.
But when the question appeared again on the Order Paper, it had been
directed to the Immigration ministry.
But there was more confusion when Immigration assistant minister
Ananiah Mwaboza said he could not answer the question, because the
right ministry to answer it was the Office of the President.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua ended the
confusion when she assured the House that the question would be
answered this week.
Yesterday, Mr Kariuki said the Armenian government had confirmed that
the two men were its citizens, holding Armenian passports.
The two had valid work permits, and had never requested state security
as had been alleged by some MPs.
But the assistant minister was booed by the Opposition when he
said allegations of using state resources by the two foreigners
were unfounded.
They were involved in consultancy, marketing, development and finance,
he went on.
And they had no criminal records in Armenia, said Mr Kariuki.
Mr Mirugi also tabled copies of passports of the two foreigners,
Kenya Revenue Authority documents and certificates of incorporation
of the companies they owned.
Mr Davies Nakitare (Saboti, Narc) asked the Government to be
transparent and come clean on the mercenary issue.
Mr Kamotho demanded to know why Mr Margaryan had taken Lang'ata MP
Raila Odinga to court on a "fictitious case."
Mr Odinga said he was yet to get court summons after he was sued by
the foreigners.
Mr Kariuki said Mr Odinga should wait to argue his case in court
instead of using the floor of the House to do so.