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RAILA INSISTS MARGARYAN LED RAID ON 'STANDARD'
By Parliament Team
Kenya Times, Kenya
April 5 2006
Artur Margaryan, one of the alleged mercenaries, was inducted into
the dreaded Kanga squad as the commander ahead of the raid on the
Standard Group, Parliament was told yesterday.
Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga (Narc), while contributing to a question on
the operation of the Police Force which he had asked on behalf of his
Ndhiwa counterpart, Orwa Ojode (Narc), claimed that Margaryan was
recruited into the Kanga Squad to command the raid on the Standard
Group's premises at I&M Building and Likoni Road printing press.
Odinga asked Assistant Minister for Internal Security, Mirugi Kariuki
to explain to the House how Margaryan was inducted to Kanga squad as
a commander without the knowledge of the Commissioner of Police.
Ojode's question had sought to know the number of formations that
exists in the Kenya Police and their respective commanders.
According to Mirugi, no unit exist as Kanga and there are nine
formations in the Kenya Police commanded by officers who report to
the Commissioner of Police. He denied allegations that Margaryan was
inducted into the Police Force.
Mirugi however, alluded that the Police on special occasions come up
with special units to deal with specific crimes.
Odinga's claim was a culmination of a heated debate on the alleged
mercenaries raised by Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho (Narc) in which the
government was roasted for protecting personalities of questionable
backgrounds under the guise of foreign investment.
Saboti MP Davies Nakitare said Margaryan and his alleged brother Artur
Sargsyan had no investment plans for the country as Trade Minister
Mukhisa Kituyi confirmed and that Kenya was in a serious state of
insecurity to have such people around.
But Mirugi maintained that the duo were genuine businessmen and
that the Government of the Republic of Armenia had confirmed they
were its citizens and two hold its passports. He could not however
ascertain the amount of investment the duo were bringing into the
country despite insisting that they were registered consultants in
marketing, business development and finance and were tax compliant
according to records from the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Odinga also questioned why the duo were accorded state security and
why they were moving in vehicles with concealed number plates. He
also expressed surprise when Mirugi said that there was a suit in
court by Magaryan in which he (Raila) was a defendant, adding that
he had not been served "yet the minister can state here that I have
a case in court. What does it amount to?"
The Lang'ata MP also wondered why the two Armenians had to register
a company, Kensington Holdings Limited under a name that already
existed in the books of the Registrar of Companies if the intention
was not suspect.
Emuhaya MP, Kenneth Marende said it was illegal for anyone to use
on Kenyan roads vehicles with concealed number plates, adding that
under normal circumstances the two Armenians should have been arrested
and prosecuted.
By Parliament Team
Kenya Times, Kenya
April 5 2006
Artur Margaryan, one of the alleged mercenaries, was inducted into
the dreaded Kanga squad as the commander ahead of the raid on the
Standard Group, Parliament was told yesterday.
Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga (Narc), while contributing to a question on
the operation of the Police Force which he had asked on behalf of his
Ndhiwa counterpart, Orwa Ojode (Narc), claimed that Margaryan was
recruited into the Kanga Squad to command the raid on the Standard
Group's premises at I&M Building and Likoni Road printing press.
Odinga asked Assistant Minister for Internal Security, Mirugi Kariuki
to explain to the House how Margaryan was inducted to Kanga squad as
a commander without the knowledge of the Commissioner of Police.
Ojode's question had sought to know the number of formations that
exists in the Kenya Police and their respective commanders.
According to Mirugi, no unit exist as Kanga and there are nine
formations in the Kenya Police commanded by officers who report to
the Commissioner of Police. He denied allegations that Margaryan was
inducted into the Police Force.
Mirugi however, alluded that the Police on special occasions come up
with special units to deal with specific crimes.
Odinga's claim was a culmination of a heated debate on the alleged
mercenaries raised by Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho (Narc) in which the
government was roasted for protecting personalities of questionable
backgrounds under the guise of foreign investment.
Saboti MP Davies Nakitare said Margaryan and his alleged brother Artur
Sargsyan had no investment plans for the country as Trade Minister
Mukhisa Kituyi confirmed and that Kenya was in a serious state of
insecurity to have such people around.
But Mirugi maintained that the duo were genuine businessmen and
that the Government of the Republic of Armenia had confirmed they
were its citizens and two hold its passports. He could not however
ascertain the amount of investment the duo were bringing into the
country despite insisting that they were registered consultants in
marketing, business development and finance and were tax compliant
according to records from the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Odinga also questioned why the duo were accorded state security and
why they were moving in vehicles with concealed number plates. He
also expressed surprise when Mirugi said that there was a suit in
court by Magaryan in which he (Raila) was a defendant, adding that
he had not been served "yet the minister can state here that I have
a case in court. What does it amount to?"
The Lang'ata MP also wondered why the two Armenians had to register
a company, Kensington Holdings Limited under a name that already
existed in the books of the Registrar of Companies if the intention
was not suspect.
Emuhaya MP, Kenneth Marende said it was illegal for anyone to use
on Kenyan roads vehicles with concealed number plates, adding that
under normal circumstances the two Armenians should have been arrested
and prosecuted.