KALONZO RECOUNTS MEETING WITH ARMENIAN DUO
By Evelyn Kwamboka and Francis Openda
Standard, Kenya
March 15 2006
Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka says an Asian businessman introduced
him to the alleged Armenian mercenaries.
“He was accompanied by two persons who were casually dressed. They
were wearing gold chains, rings, bracelets and watches. He introduced
them as businessmen from Dubai,” he said.
Former Cabinet minister Kalonzo Musyoka speaks to reporters at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival from Ethiopia. Pic by
Jennifer Wachie
Musyoka said the two men, who he described as “guests of the
Government”, introduced themselves at the Grand Regency Hotel’s Summit
Club as relatives of the Armenian President.
“One of them introduced himself as a relative to the Armenian President
and that he was intending to vie for the presidency,” Kalonzo said
in a police statement.
The MP jetted into the country on Wednesday afternoon from Ethiopia
and went straight to Kilimani Police Station. He said one of the
men wanted him to introduce him to the Democratic Republic of Congo
President Joseph Kabila.
“He asked whether, as a former Foreign minister, I knew President
Joseph Kabila well and could introduce them to him,” he stated in
his statement.
Musyoka told them that although he knew Kabila, they were not close
friends. After that, Kalonzo said, one of them suggested that they
take a photograph using their camera.
“It occurred to me that the intention of having a photograph with me
was for the purpose of identification and possible elimination,” he
told Nairobi Deputy CID boss, Isaiah Osugo, who recorded the statement.
Kalonzo was accompanied by his lawyer, Mutula Kilonzo, while Orange
Democratic Movement legislators waited outside. He was joined later
at the station by MPs Gideon Moi, Nick Salat, Sammy Weya and Kiema
Kilonzo. Mutula said four police officers had raided Kalonzo’s home
on Tuesday night and demanded to know where his wife was.
The Armenians, Sargsyan Artur and Margaryan Artur, on Monday claimed
Kalonzo had asked them to help him with Sh3 billion and bulletproof
jackets in a bid to overthrow the Government. But the MP denied the
claims, saying he only met them briefly.
“If the statement made by the Armenians is true regarding their
relationship with the Government, the Government should accept and
own up. This is because it is important to live in a transparent way,”
he said.
Musyoka arrived at the station in an escort of three vehicles carrying
officers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
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