EU Diplomats to Discuss Arturs' Saga

European Union (EU) diplomats in Kenya will this week discuss the Arturs' saga and the detention and questioning by CID officers of The Standard Group top managers.

Germany, which chairs the EU Heads of Mission in Kenya, will host the diplomats on Thursday, impeccable sources told The Standard on Monday.

The mission is concerned by the Government's refusal to release the Kiruki report on the Armenian brother's activities.

It is also said to be unhappy with the manner in which the Government questioned Standard directors in the absence of their lawyers, breaching their fundamental human rights.

"The Arturs' episode and recent developments would be discussed by the EU Heads of Mission at their monthly meeting," a source close to the mission said.

Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Strategy Advisor, Mr Paul Melly, Chief Operating Officer Mr Paul Wanyagah, Editorial Director, Mr Kwendo Opanga and Managing Editor, Mr Chaacha Mwita, were early last week held incommunicado for close to 10 hours.

They were arrested following a lead story published by The Standard on April 16, which quoted one of the deported Armenian brothers, Mr Artur Margaryan, claiming he was hired by people in the Government to abduct and possibly assassinate Baringo Central MP, Mr Gideon Moi.

Many unanswered questions

The directors were unconditionally released after handing over a recorded version of the publication. However, they were denied access to their lawyers, who together with journalists, politicians and human rights organisations were locked outside Mazingira House, the CID headquarters.

Police claimed they had instructions "from the top" to only admit Melly, Wanyagah, Opanga and Chaacha.

Speaking after their release, Melly said the Group only publishes information that serves the public interest.

"We will now leave it to the police to conduct necessary investigations. We wish to reiterate that as a media house and in pursuit of our editorial policy, we publish and disseminate editorial content that serves public interest," he said.

"We have come to provide the tape records of details printed in our newspaper today."

On Monday, sources close to the EU noted that there were many unanswered questions about the Artur brothers and their activities in Kenya.

"The Arturs' brandishing of guns at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in June and the threat posed to travelers the absence of thorough investigation or accountability had done nothing to reassure the international community," said the source.

Bid to have report released flopped

Two days after The Standard's exclusive story, Ndhiwa MP, Mr Orwa Ojode, moved an adjournment Motion in Parliament to force the release of the Kiruki Commission report. It, however, flopped.

The alleged Armenian brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan, came to the limelight last year when Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga claimed there were assassins in the country hired to eliminate certain Opposition politicians.

The duo enjoyed VIP treatment and at one time addressed a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport VIP lounge. It later emerged that they had access to all areas of Kenyan airports and had even been appointed deputy police commissioners.

They were hurriedly deported after they caused a security scare at JKIA when they drew guns as they objected to a security check. A commission of inquiry headed by former police commissioner Shedrach Kiruki was appointment to probe the activities of the alleged brothers in the country.

Two weeks ago, Narc-Kenya activist Mary Wambui's daughter, Winnie Wangui Mwai, told a local radio station that she was in love with Margaryan and they were planning to wed.

The Government has since declined to release the findings of the Kiruki Commission citing security reasons.