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ARMENIANS WERE STATE GUESTS, CLAIMS OJODEH
Story by Owino Opondo
The Nation, Kenya
June 22, 2006
Mr Ojodeh
The deported Armenian brothers at the centre of mercenaries claims
had been invited into the country by the Government, an MP claimed.
Mr Orwa Ojodeh (Ndhiwa, Narc) said Mr Artur Margaryan and Mr Artur
Sargsyan had many times visited the General Service Unit headquarters
in Nairobi where they were normally received by the commandant.
The two, he added, had been training the crack Recce Company on
specialised skills.
Saying he was quoting a highly confidential letter written by the
Nairobi regional intelligence coordinator, Mr J.K. Kamau to the
Director of Intelligence, the MP added that the Armenians also took
part in the raid on Standard Group offices and printing plant.
Mr Ojodeh said the raid was conducted by the Recce Company and directed
by the Nairobi CID boss.
"This was my first time to witness a government hiring terrorists
to harass its own people. The Armenians were a government project,"
he said, as several MPs asked him to prove his allegations.
Government Chief Whip Norman Nyagah, Lands assistant minister Asman
Kamama, and Mr Omingo Magara (South Mugirango, Ford People) sought
to have Mr Ojodeh stopped from making the claims.
They asked temporary deputy Speaker Kirugi M'Mukindia (Imenti Central,
Narc) to confirm if the document Mr Ojodeh had referred to was genuine.
"Can the Chair authenticate the document first so that it is not
taken up by the Press?" asked Mr Nyagah.
He was supported by Mr Magara, who said the issue of the Armenians
was before two committees of Parliament and it would be premature to
allow the House to debate it.
After perusing the document, Mr M'Mukindia said: "The copy of the
letter I have has no heading, and doesn't show which Government
department it is coming from. I'm not sure the document is authentic."
But Mr Ojodeh stood his ground, arguing that not all memos written by
the Intelligence had letterheads, as Mr Nyagah asked if the document
had been authored by Kenya Times boss.
Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha (Kanu) called for patience, and asked
the Chair to let Mr Ojodeh explain himself. "Don't impute improper
motives on the member. You cannot just dismiss what he is saying
without providing an alternative view," he said.
Justice minister Martha Karua on Tuesday attempted to stop two
parliamentary committees from investigating the Artur brothers. The
committees are legal affairs, headed by Kabete MP Paul Muite, and
security, chaired by Changamwe MP Ramadhan Kajembe.
She said it was wrong for MPs to investigate matters already referred
by the President to a commission of inquiry. Parliament was not
meant to govern and rule but to audit activities of the Executive,
she argued.
Speaker Francis ole Kaparo instructed Mr Muite to submit a written
reply to the issues raised by Ms Karua before he could make his ruling
on the matter.
Story by Owino Opondo
The Nation, Kenya
June 22, 2006
Mr Ojodeh
The deported Armenian brothers at the centre of mercenaries claims
had been invited into the country by the Government, an MP claimed.
Mr Orwa Ojodeh (Ndhiwa, Narc) said Mr Artur Margaryan and Mr Artur
Sargsyan had many times visited the General Service Unit headquarters
in Nairobi where they were normally received by the commandant.
The two, he added, had been training the crack Recce Company on
specialised skills.
Saying he was quoting a highly confidential letter written by the
Nairobi regional intelligence coordinator, Mr J.K. Kamau to the
Director of Intelligence, the MP added that the Armenians also took
part in the raid on Standard Group offices and printing plant.
Mr Ojodeh said the raid was conducted by the Recce Company and directed
by the Nairobi CID boss.
"This was my first time to witness a government hiring terrorists
to harass its own people. The Armenians were a government project,"
he said, as several MPs asked him to prove his allegations.
Government Chief Whip Norman Nyagah, Lands assistant minister Asman
Kamama, and Mr Omingo Magara (South Mugirango, Ford People) sought
to have Mr Ojodeh stopped from making the claims.
They asked temporary deputy Speaker Kirugi M'Mukindia (Imenti Central,
Narc) to confirm if the document Mr Ojodeh had referred to was genuine.
"Can the Chair authenticate the document first so that it is not
taken up by the Press?" asked Mr Nyagah.
He was supported by Mr Magara, who said the issue of the Armenians
was before two committees of Parliament and it would be premature to
allow the House to debate it.
After perusing the document, Mr M'Mukindia said: "The copy of the
letter I have has no heading, and doesn't show which Government
department it is coming from. I'm not sure the document is authentic."
But Mr Ojodeh stood his ground, arguing that not all memos written by
the Intelligence had letterheads, as Mr Nyagah asked if the document
had been authored by Kenya Times boss.
Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha (Kanu) called for patience, and asked
the Chair to let Mr Ojodeh explain himself. "Don't impute improper
motives on the member. You cannot just dismiss what he is saying
without providing an alternative view," he said.
Justice minister Martha Karua on Tuesday attempted to stop two
parliamentary committees from investigating the Artur brothers. The
committees are legal affairs, headed by Kabete MP Paul Muite, and
security, chaired by Changamwe MP Ramadhan Kajembe.
She said it was wrong for MPs to investigate matters already referred
by the President to a commission of inquiry. Parliament was not
meant to govern and rule but to audit activities of the Executive,
she argued.
Speaker Francis ole Kaparo instructed Mr Muite to submit a written
reply to the issues raised by Ms Karua before he could make his ruling
on the matter.