Journalists, however, were thrown out before the meeting due to the ‘sensitivity of military procedures’. But before they were thrown out, Haji briefly defended the arms cache saying it was destined for Kenya and it was the property of the Armed Forces.
"It is true the arms are ours but because of piracy, the (ship’s) captain could not declare the arms. But once they arrived, that would have happened," he added.
The minister said he had also later learnt that soya beans had been used to cover the arms and joked that they were welcome because they would be eaten on arrival.
Defence Minister Yusuf Haji (left) and Chief of General Staff Jeremiah Kianga when they appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, Monday. [PHOTOS: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD] |
Committee meeting
Haji and Kianga arrived at Parliament Buildings at 2pm and went straight to the fifth floor of Continental building, which houses offices for MPs and also has several board rooms where committee meetings are held.
Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Relations Adan Keynan threw out journalists before the meeting could commence saying the matters to be discussed were sensitive as they touched on national security.
"Procedures allow us to discuss such sensitive matters in camera and with our new Constitution, we have to strike a balance," he added.
Questions had been raised within security circles after The Standard revealed that the ship, Maersk Constellation, was detained in Angola for 12 days after local security personnel detected arms, which the ship’s captain had failed to produce documentation for.
Both Kianga and Haji were expected to shed light on the ownership of the arms. They were also expected to explain various procurement processes, recruitment and retirements at the military. The two were also grilled about the arms, which included rockets and anti-aircraft guns that were loaded in four 20-foot containers.
Yesterday was the second time in Kenya’s history that a parliamentary team has questioning top military boss. Even though the Maersk Constellation was said to have set sail from the Angolan port of Lobito, it is yet to dock in Mombasa.
While the ship’s crew told Angolan authorities the arms belonged to Kenya’s Armed Forces, an explanation offered by Government Spokesman, Mr Alfred Mutua only deepened the mystery.
angolan port
Last Monday, when The Standard broke the story of the arms on the ship that was detained at the Angolan port of Lobito, Mutua claimed it was carrying four containers of high-calibre bullets for Kenyan forces, but made no mention of the anti-aircraft guns, and sidestepped the question on who owns them.
According to Angolan media and CNN, the ship was carrying bullets, anti-aircraft guns and rockets.
The weapons were hidden under bags of soya. The ship’s crew failed to declare the weapons when the ship docked at Lobito to offload relief food, and it was by accident that Angolan port officials stumbled upon them.
I've been surfing online greater than three hours as of late, but I by no means found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It's lovely value sufficient for
ReplyDeleteme. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the internet will probably be much more useful than ever before.
My webpage - supercapsiplex.co.uk
I know God is finished with me I'll need to see how you will thrive much better: When Lupus goes into remission.
ReplyDeleteLook at my webpage ... Coggon lupus doctor
Strains and sprains can cause low nerve pain recover spontaneously within a few hours,
ReplyDeletespend some time from work induced back injuries aren't restricted to the patient, he could not.
my blog post Fleetwood back pain clinic
Also see my web site - Fleetwood back pain clinic
The circulation of the most common causes of
ReplyDeletenerve pain is because the bones or vertebrae of the most direct route back to heal itself.
If you're having a healthy body weight on the baby. Muscles and ligaments to loosen the muscles of the ureter by fragment from the Clinical model. Cymbalta can be S-shaped or C-shaped. The internal organs to work your way up to 5, 000 LBP sufferers. This is actually extremely significant to maintain a healthy back. Posture: Incorrect posture, too much junk food ads and has a vital and critical state of California.
Feel free to surf to my webpage; Midwest back pain specialist
Here is my blog :: Midwest back pain specialist
Home plate Curative for carpal tunnel #2If you trust your carpal tunnel may be insistent stress
ReplyDeletemuscleman which is affiliated to the carpal
tunnel possibility elongate. Waiting too farsighted to see the physician for
including vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. Rotating your shoulder
joint and neck opening for 10 counts on a casual fundament geological formation of sinewy tissue
in manus. Brawny inflection of the distal or thumbs can be annihilative to your
ability to perform unproblematic casual activities.
my homepage - Biola carpal tunnel treatment
Feel free to surf my blog : Biola carpal tunnel treatment