|
Questions over arms imported
from China
February 8, 2008
EA STANDARD
By Standard Reporter
AN arms import deal between Kenya and China has raised eyebrows
that the arsenal was being brought for ulterior motives.
But as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) raised a red flag over
the deadly cargo, the Government moved swiftly to assuage Kenyans’
fears, saying the importation was normal and the weapons would not
be used to arm illegal militia as claimed by the opposition.
The concern over the arms deal — entered between the Government
and China — appeared to be over the timing, last month, just after
Kenyans had gone through a hotly contested election whose
presidential results were disputed when President Kibaki was
declared winner and quickly sworn-in.
It was in the same month that the security forces were using more
ammunition to quell violence precipitated by the disputed
elections.
Letters made available by ODM Secretary-General, Prof Anyang’
Nyong’o, indicated that the Permanent Secretary for Internal
Security, Mr Cyrus Gituai, had instructed China National
Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation, within the
Chinese Trade Department, to supply Kenya with unspecified arms,
ammunition and spares.
Further correspondence between the PS and a Mr Zhao Shoutang, the
director of Chinese Trade Department, indicated that payment for
the arms was to be directed through the Bank of China, which was
to give guarantees. On the Kenyan side, the deal was being
transacted through the Kenya Commercial Bank Head Office branch at
Kencom House.
When The Standard reached Gituai on the telephone, he did not deny
the dealings and confirmed that the Government expected the
delivery of the arms.
Gituai, however, denied Nyong’o’s claims that the Government was
importing the weapons to engage criminal gangs in security matters.
"It is a misplaced idea to imagine that the Government can engage
such people (gangs) in security matters. We have enough security
and we have not used even half of them in this crisis," he said.
Gituai said illegal militia such as Mungiki were banned and the
Government was committed to eliminating them.
Gituai termed the importation of the arms as normal, but regretted
that the timing of the process could have been misunderstood.
Internal Security minister, Prof George Saitoti, also denied that
the Government was arming militia, terming the claims "preposterous,
untrue and far-fetched".
In a statement sent to newsrooms last night, he said: "The
government has no intention of taking such an illegal action as
there is no justification for arming militias. The government has
adequate security forces both in the Regular Police and the
Administration Police to handle politically motivated hooligans or
other criminals in the country."
|
