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Kenya: Reporters Finally Allowed Into Posh House

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  • Kenya: Reporters Finally Allowed Into Posh House

    REPORTERS FINALLY ALLOWED INTO POSH HOUSE

    Daily Nation , Kenya
    March 14 2006

    Journalists were finally let into the posh house in an upmarket
    Nairobi estate which Langata MP said was hosting mercenaries.

    After holding a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International
    Airport (JKIA) and denying they were mercenaries two Armenian
    brothers - Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan - allowed reporters
    into the house in Runda estate where Langata MP Raila Odinga claimed
    mercenaries were living.

    One of the brothers, Mr Artur Margaryan, took journalists on a tour
    of the expensively furnished house and fielded questions as he walked
    them out of the compound.

    A gap below the gate from which the Press had taken pictures last
    week was sealed.

    Except for a gardener and a meek black dog that was not chained and
    which did not bark, the place was deserted.

    Mr Margaryan was driven into the compound in a red Mitsubishi saloon
    by a woman of Caucasian descent whom he said was his bodyguard, some
    minutes before 2pm. He was expensively dressed and had gold chains
    and rings.

    He requested journalists not to take pictures of the car for security
    reasons. The same message had been communicated to the journalists by a
    man who introduced himself as his lawyer. He declined to give his name.

    Last Thursday, the red car trailed the Nation team throughout the
    time we were at the estate following the story.

    On entering the house, the first thing that attracts one's eyes is
    a big coloured portrait drawing of the woman introduced as a bodyguard.

    The sitting room was expensively furnished with leather sofa sets
    and a single coffee table with an ash tray.

    Electronic goods unpacked - including refrigerators, several
    flat-screen TVs and disks - were scattered on the ground floor of
    the house giving the impression that the occupants had just moved
    into the house.

    The kitchen was well stocked with maize flour, vegetables, and
    soft drinks.

    Mr Margaryan said the food was for the gardener, whom he pays Sh
    20,000 a month.

    When reporters entered the compound it was Mr Margaryan who opened
    the door to the main house with keys from his pockets. The gardener
    only opened the gate.

    He insisted that he and his brother, with whom he addressed a press
    conference at the airport, were "clean businessmen" who came into
    the country through the Democratic Republic of Congo last year.

    He says they liked the country and its people which prompted them to
    set up businesses here.

    Asked what kind of business they were engaged in, Mr Margaryan said
    they were into real estate and importation of cars and electronics.

    He admitted he was Armenian and together with his brother had served
    in the military as it was mandatory for everybody to serve on attaining
    18 years of age.

    Mr Margaryan said his brother travels to Armenia from his base in
    Dubai frequently as he was interested in the presidential seat held
    by his uncle.

    The Armenian claimed he had been in the Runda house for the past five
    days and was negotiating to buy it.

    It is at this point that the landlord asked him to clear his name
    first before they could negotiate further.

    He further repeated claims he gave Mr Odinga a US$1.5 million loan
    (just over Sh100 million) in cash at a Nairobi hotel.

    Asked whether there was any agreement on the terms of payments,
    Mr Margaryan said it was not the first time he had given such huge
    amounts of money without such a contract.

    Contacted later, a lawyer for the landlord said the man had only
    negotiated lease of the house and not its sale.

    He said it was Mr Margaryan who signed the lease at an estate agency.

    The lease is drawn between the landlord and Brotherlink International.
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