Kenya: The Mystery of the Armenian Brothers Remains Unresolved
Francis Openda
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
AllAfrica.com, Washington
__________________
Nairobi:
The mystery of the two Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan has continued to deepen since they emerged to make bribery claims against Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka.
The Government on its part has added to the mystery by making contradictory statements about their nationality and nature of business.
When they "jetted in" from Dubai and addressed a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport VIP lounge, Immigration minister Gideon Konchella told journalists in Kisumu that the two men were Czech citizens.
He quickly followed this with a fax message to newsrooms retracting his earlier position and stating that the two were Armenian consultants in marketing, business development and finance on a valid two-year class H permits issued on January 28.
Konchellah later said there was an "untold story" about the two men and what their business in Kenya was.
He asked for patience as his ministry investigated.
"There is something fishy in the whole affair," he said but added that his ministry had records showing when the two men came in. But Margaryan later said they had been in Kenya for only four months.
The statement read by Environment minister Prof Kivutha Kibwana claimed it was the Orange Democratic Leaders who were recruiting mercenaries. The mystery deepened when on March 16, when Internal Security minister John Michuki said he could not tell whether the individuals were businessmen or hit men
Jun 10, 2006
Francis Openda
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
AllAfrica.com, Washington
__________________
Nairobi:
The mystery of the two Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan has continued to deepen since they emerged to make bribery claims against Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka.
The Government on its part has added to the mystery by making contradictory statements about their nationality and nature of business.
When they "jetted in" from Dubai and addressed a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport VIP lounge, Immigration minister Gideon Konchella told journalists in Kisumu that the two men were Czech citizens.
He quickly followed this with a fax message to newsrooms retracting his earlier position and stating that the two were Armenian consultants in marketing, business development and finance on a valid two-year class H permits issued on January 28.
Konchellah later said there was an "untold story" about the two men and what their business in Kenya was.
He asked for patience as his ministry investigated.
"There is something fishy in the whole affair," he said but added that his ministry had records showing when the two men came in. But Margaryan later said they had been in Kenya for only four months.
The statement read by Environment minister Prof Kivutha Kibwana claimed it was the Orange Democratic Leaders who were recruiting mercenaries. The mystery deepened when on March 16, when Internal Security minister John Michuki said he could not tell whether the individuals were businessmen or hit men
Jun 10, 2006
