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GOVERNOR DRAGGED INTO ARTUR SAGA
Daily Nation (Kenya)
July 14, 2014 Monday
by PAUL OGEMBA -1
Kirinyaga county boss put to task over his role in granting Armenian
brothers work permits.
The controversial Artur brothers saga came back to haunt Kirinyaga
Governor Joseph Ndathi as he was put to task over his role in the
Armenians' stay in Kenya.
Mr Ndathi was at pains to explain that his posting to the ministry
of Foreign Affairs where he chaired the committee that approved the
purchase of the Kenyan Embassy in Tokyo was not a cover up of his
involvement in the Artur brothers' saga.
He denied fast-tracking the issuance of work permits to Artur Margaryan
and Artur Sargsyan, saying any foreigner who met the qualifications
could be issued with the permit within an hour.
"It is not true that work permits were issued to them with my knowledge
as the director of immigration. The permits can be issued within
one hour so long as one has the necessary documents. That cannot be
fast-tracking," said Mr Ndathi.
He added that he was aware a joint parliamentary committee named him
as a key suspect in the issuance of passports to the brothers and he
was also aware that the committee recommended his investigation.
"I am aware, ready and waiting for those investigations. It is,
however, not true that I was moved due to any shortcoming or as a
cover up for the Artur brothers. It was a normal government transfer,"
he said.
FRAUD CASE
The governor was being cross-examined by lawyer Wilfred Nderitu during
the hearing of a case in which former Foreign Affairs PS Thuita Mwangi,
former ambassador to Libya Anthony Muchiri and former Charge d'Affaires
Allan Mburu are accused of fraud in procuring the Sh1.1 billion Kenya
embassy and ambassador's residence in Tokyo.
Mr Nderitu said that Mr Ndathi was transferred to the ministry of
Foreign Affairs as a cover up for his role in the Artur brothers saga.
The two Armenians were allegedly hired by the State to set up a unit
inside the CID that would tackle organised crime.
They had free rein but it turned out that they were mercenaries,
hit-men, drug dealers and arms traffickers with connections to powerful
people in the government. They were later deported.
The hearing continues.
From: A. Papazian
Daily Nation (Kenya)
July 14, 2014 Monday
by PAUL OGEMBA -1
Kirinyaga county boss put to task over his role in granting Armenian
brothers work permits.
The controversial Artur brothers saga came back to haunt Kirinyaga
Governor Joseph Ndathi as he was put to task over his role in the
Armenians' stay in Kenya.
Mr Ndathi was at pains to explain that his posting to the ministry
of Foreign Affairs where he chaired the committee that approved the
purchase of the Kenyan Embassy in Tokyo was not a cover up of his
involvement in the Artur brothers' saga.
He denied fast-tracking the issuance of work permits to Artur Margaryan
and Artur Sargsyan, saying any foreigner who met the qualifications
could be issued with the permit within an hour.
"It is not true that work permits were issued to them with my knowledge
as the director of immigration. The permits can be issued within
one hour so long as one has the necessary documents. That cannot be
fast-tracking," said Mr Ndathi.
He added that he was aware a joint parliamentary committee named him
as a key suspect in the issuance of passports to the brothers and he
was also aware that the committee recommended his investigation.
"I am aware, ready and waiting for those investigations. It is,
however, not true that I was moved due to any shortcoming or as a
cover up for the Artur brothers. It was a normal government transfer,"
he said.
FRAUD CASE
The governor was being cross-examined by lawyer Wilfred Nderitu during
the hearing of a case in which former Foreign Affairs PS Thuita Mwangi,
former ambassador to Libya Anthony Muchiri and former Charge d'Affaires
Allan Mburu are accused of fraud in procuring the Sh1.1 billion Kenya
embassy and ambassador's residence in Tokyo.
Mr Nderitu said that Mr Ndathi was transferred to the ministry of
Foreign Affairs as a cover up for his role in the Artur brothers saga.
The two Armenians were allegedly hired by the State to set up a unit
inside the CID that would tackle organised crime.
They had free rein but it turned out that they were mercenaries,
hit-men, drug dealers and arms traffickers with connections to powerful
people in the government. They were later deported.
The hearing continues.
From: A. Papazian