(sent by Robert Otieno-Nyagudi & Joab O.)

Artur: We were hired to `take out' leaders

By Douglas Okwatch and Francis Openda

Mr Artur Margaryan, who Interpol describes as an international fugitive on the run, has for the first time hinted that there was an attempt by prominent politicians to hire him for a `criminal' undertaking.

And Lang'ata MP Raila Odinga - - who first blew the lid on the Artur brothers claiming they were assassins for hire - -told Parliament that the fugitives were back and had even visited the State Lodge, Nakuru.

Mr Artur Margaryan, the fugitive whom Interpol says is an international crook on the run, outside the Runda house in Nairobi where he lived with his alleged brother, Artur Sargsyan, in this file picture.

Interestingly, the Government added another twist to the Artur saga by stating that it would not release the Kiruki Commission report on the two alleged brothers due to national security considerations.

Talking to The Standard on phone - - a conversation we recorded - - Margaryan said he was not in Kenya but in Sri Lanka from where he'll soon release to the international press his intended book on their exact mission in Kenya.

Margaryan claimed to possess incontrovertible evidence of how some senior politicians in Government tried to conscript them for a criminal act.

"My partner and I were approached. We were to be paid lots of money as agents and there was a target. But it was a criminal act," was the damning admission that could for the first time lend credence to the widely held theory about the real reason Margaryan, and his alleged sibling, Artur Sargsyan came to the country.

A top Government official, who Margaryan says he has named in his upcoming kiss-and-tell book, The Arturs X-Files, approached the Armenians, dropped the name of a person to be taken out and a price, which the alleged Armenian refuses to talk about.

"(The transaction) is all on tape and forms `Part I' of my book, which you will read very soon. His voice is very clear so it's easy to know who is speaking to me," Margaryan said in his self-confession.

All in recorded

The tape, he says, is just one of a number recorded during their stay in the country. Their Runda residence was the venue of high society parties and other high profile meetings with people said to have Government links.

"You can hear how he's asking me and my partner to help him, but it's a criminal act," says the alleged Armenian, who returned to the limelight with media reports, exclusively published by The Standard, that he was writing a book that would expose some of President Kibaki's ministers as bribe-takers.

When Miss Winnie Wangui Mwai followed it up with an interview with a local FM radio station in which she bared it all about her love for the glitzy Armenian - - whose Rambo-like figure betrays his business executive and investor posturing - - the Armenians had literally returned.

This could be the basis of the claim by Raila in Parliament that the Artur brothers had twice been spotted in the country.

"They were seen in Mombasa and were even at the State House, Nakuru," Raila said.

The Arturs once tried dragging Raila down the gutter with claims that they had given him money "to sort out some girlfriend problems".

Revenge

Believed to have been acting at the behest of some powerful individuals in Government, from whom they enjoyed protection, the motive of this latest mystifying twist in the Artur saga can only be a subject of speculation, which could include a major falling out that may have set them on a revenge path.

Raila, who claimed the Arturs were mercenaries hired by Government operatives to assassinate opposition politicians, first exposed the presence of Margaryan and his alleged brother Sargsyan in the country.

Margaryan named an MP as the man their paymasters wanted them to assassinate "using our Dubai links". Margaryan then volunteered to play us the tape of the transaction.

Also for the first time, he told us how the Government official, who he says was working in cahoots with a Nairobi businessman of Asian extract, promised to pay them for a repertoire of dangerous jobs, including forgery and subterfuge.

After a series of denials by Cabinet ministers of Raila's claims, matters came to a head when one of the Artur brothers pulled a gun at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport demanding to be let through without inspection.

National security threat

Police later raided their home in Runda, Nairobi, where they discovered guns, bullets, communication equipment, jungle fatigues and other gadgets.

It was at the Kiruki Commission, which investigated their activities, that Wangui was unmasked as the person who smoothed their way at the airport, where they once held a press conference at the VIP lounge. The lounge is reserved for dignitaries and State guests.

The commission was told that the two, who claimed to be from Armenia, were criminals wanted for offences in other countries.

Officially, Margaryan was deported last year alongside his alleged brother, Sargsyan, for their criminal activities while in the country.

However, Margaryan boasted that he was never deported but was flown out in First Class to a destination of his own choice.

On Wednesday, the Government stated it would not release the Kiruki Commission report on the two Armenian brothers due to national security considerations.

Internal Security assistant minister, Mr Peter Munya, dismissed Raila's claims as "wild allegations", adding that the Lang'ata MP "is always dreaming of State House".

But Raila maintained that it is public knowledge that the Armenian brothers are back and are enjoying State protection.

Biggest scandal

The matter arose after a question by Ndhiwa MP, Mr Orwa Ojode, (Narc), asking when the Government would release the Kiruki Commission report on the two Armenian brothers presented to the President last year.

Describing the Artur brothers' saga as one of the biggest scandals of the Narc Government, Raila said a lot of taxpayers' money was spent in the probe and members were justified to demand that the Kiruki Commission report be made public.

Munya told angry MPs that the Government has studied the contents and the recommendations of the report and making it public would not be in the best interest of the country's security.

"It contains matters on the country's immigration centres, airport security and clearance, which would best be handled internally by the concerned organs instead of being made public," he said.

But unsatisfied with Munya's answer Ojode said the Government was not being genuine but instead wanted to hide something from Kenyans.

"Mr Speaker Sir, the hearing was heard in public and funded by taxpayer's money and evidence received so I wonder what is confidential about the report?" he asked.

Terrorists on hire

The MP said the presence of the two in the country caused a disaster, which led to the sacking of eight police officers and senior Government officials.

He cheekily added: "What is so confidential yet one of them is going to marry the daughter of the biggest man in the land. Will this also be done confidentially?"

Ojode said eight police officers and senior Government officials among them, Ms Naomi (Cidi), were sacked following the debacle at the airport.

"These were terrorists on hire and we cannot accept this," he said.

Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli (Narc) said claims that the two were out to assassinate key political figures could be true, which could be why the Government is not keen on releasing the report.

Responding, Munya said he would not engage in speculation but maintained that the report would not be released as this would jeopardise national security, and the matter would better be handled by the relevant security organs.

He said the Commissions of Inquiry Act does not stipulate that all reports be made public as some can be used to advice the Government on measures to take on certain issues.

More questions

Attempts by Bobasi MP Stephen Manoti (Ford-People) to have Munya give the amount spent on the probe failed after Munya said this was not part of the original question and the MP should bring a separate question so that he could provide the figure.

He said he could also only give the names of those sacked and the reasons for their sacking if Manoti filed a separate question.

Munya said those sacked were not innocent and had facilitated breach of security at the airport.

The Shadow Security Minister Joseph Nkaissery (Kanu) said the breach of security at the airport and the subsequent sacking of police officers should not be treated as a national security issue and used to withhold information from the public.

He said it is the Government's duty to ensure the safety and protection of all its citizens and where it fails it should not hide under the cover of national security but instead make the findings public.

Deputy Speaker David Musila had to contend with numerous points of order and supplementary questions from angry members but he had to bring the matter to an end so as to give time to the other questions on the Order Paper.