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Kenya: New Clues On Alleged Mercenaries

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  • Kenya: New Clues On Alleged Mercenaries

    NEW CLUES ON ALLEGED MERCENARIES
    Story By Nation Team

    Daily Nation, Kenya
    http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgco ntententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=68955
    Marc h 13 2006

    Two Mombasa businessmen might provide the key to unravel the mystery
    behind the alleged mercenaries in the country.

    Investigations point to possibilities that the two alleged mercenaries
    pitched camp in Mombasa when they first came into the country.

    Yesterday, our sister publication, the Sunday Nation, revealed that
    the men Langata MP Raila Odinga claims are mercenaries working for
    the Government are two Armenian "businessmen".

    Travel documents in our possession indicate the two men - aged 33 and
    36 - arrived in the country early this year from Dubai, but have also
    visited Kenya in the past on unknown missions.

    The revelation comes amidst calls by a cross-section of leaders for
    the Government to clarify whether there were foreign mercenaries in
    the country, or not.

    Yesterday, it emerged that when the alleged mercenaries arrived in
    January to stay, they were granted a two-year category H permit,
    which is for professionals or foreign investors.

    They paid Sh60,000 each and posted a bond of a similar amount for
    the permits.

    Mr Odinga displayed faded photocopies of the passports of the two
    foreigners on Friday, saying they were Armenians and not Russians as
    earlier claimed.

    The Nation sought to establish if the passport details could be
    confirmed by the Interpol, but was informed that the global unit on
    police operations didn't have their particulars.

    Local police have maintained they had not received such travel
    documents and could not, therefore, establish the whereabouts of the
    alleged mercenaries.

    It is now emerging that on several occasions when they visited Kenya
    in the past from their base in Dubai, they were indeed doing business
    with the Mombasa businessmen.

    They were initially involved in sugar importation, among other
    ventures with one of the businessmen before they fell out for what
    sources say were unclear circumstances.

    It is while they were working with the businessmen that they were
    introduced to powerful people in the country, who made it possible
    for them to go about their businesses without any hindrance.

    Such contacts would later become useful when they fell out with one
    of the businessmen.

    We have further established that the lower part of a gate to the
    house where the alleged mercenaries were staying in Runda and which
    provided space through which the Nation took pictures of the house
    has been sealed completely.

    Except for a gardener who rarely gets out of the compound, the place
    is now completely deserted.

    At the same time, Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'
    Nzeki called for immediate investigations into claims that foreign
    mercenaries were operating in the country.

    He said the claims were serious and Kenyans were entitled to an
    explanation.

    "That is a very serious accusation. Let the Government come out clear
    on this," he said.

    The Archbishop added that it was important for the Government to
    tell the people how the alleged mercenaries came into the country,
    as well as who brought them here.

    Addressing journalists at the Holy Family Basilica where he led special
    prayers for the country and its leadership, Archbishop Ndingi said
    the Government owed Kenyans an explanation on whether the claims were
    true or not true.

    He further called on Mr Odinga to provide all the information he has
    on the case to enable the police to conduct investigations.

    As the archbishop spoke, Mr Odinga made fresh claims that the alleged
    mercenaries had spent a night at a Nairobi residence of a prominent
    personality, who has high connections in Government. They then moved
    to a camp for one of the uniformed forces.

    Without elaborating, Mr Odinga said the gang looked for the alternative
    site after he disclosed their hideouts and revealed their identity
    to the police.

    "The mercenaries were moved to a house belonging to a prominent Narc
    personality after I disclosed their hideout and gave their identity
    to the police," he said.

    They were now being guarded by the dreaded General Service Unit,
    making it difficult for them to be investigated.

    He said the first assignment for the hit squad was to raid the
    Standard and KTN offices and were now being prepared to eliminate
    ODM luminaries.

    However, Mr Odinga warned that such attempts were bound to fail
    because Kenyans were watching keenly the events unfolding the country.

    "I don't fear these people because we know the Government is desperate
    after failing to live up to the expectations its leaders promised
    Kenyans in the last General Election," he said.

    And former Environment minister and one of the ODM's leading lights,
    Mr Kalonzo Musyoka said the security of Kenyans was paramount and asked
    the Government to "thoroughly" investigate the claims by Mr Raila.

    "We can't take such allegations lightly. It is now the duty of the
    Government to get on top of things and dispel public anxiety," he said.

    Mr Odinga warned President Kibaki that his days were numbered because
    he was defending corrupt individuals in his Government.

    He faulted the President for turning a deaf ear on the wishes of
    Kenyans to sack corrupt ministers who had defied the law.

    "It was wrong for President Kibaki to openly declare that Michuki
    was there to stay even after he publicly defied the law and raided
    private property," he said.

    Mr Odinga made the new claims at various stops on his way to the
    burial of his cousin, Jennifer Akinyi Matara, at Ogango village in
    Nyamira District.

    At the funeral Mr Odinga accused the Government of practising
    tribalism.

    He cited the recent sacking of Dr Patrick Orege, Naftali Mogere,
    Prof Ratemo Michieka, Jasper Oduor, James Ongwae and Zachary Ogongo,
    among others, who were all from Nyanza.

    Mr Mogere, who had been sacked as the managing trustee of the National
    Social Security Fund, was last week appointed the managing director
    of the National Cereals and Produce Board.

    Mr Odinga said Kenyans were keenly monitoring how the Government
    was selectively tackling corruption in the country, saying unless
    it handled the matter as required, the voters would hit back at the
    polls next year.
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