Calls to punish Standard Group raiders

By Standard Online

There were renewed calls to have those behind the infamous Standard Group raid in March 2006 brought to book, as the media house on Friday marked the sixth anniversary of the attack.

Six years ago, hooded men suspected to be agents of the Government executed the raid against The Standard newspaper and KTN premises in the dead of the night.

During the raid, the agents—who according to reports were under the command of two Caucasians since identified as the Artur brothers (Margaryan and Sargasian) — roughed up staff, dismantled television broadcast equipment, rendering the station off-air, before confiscating equipment at the I&M Bank Tower building in Nairobi’s CBD.

They proceeded to the Group’s other premises on Likoni Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi, where again they vandalised the printing press, burnt the day’s newspapers rolling off the press and confiscated equipment, including a motor vehicle. The same equipment has not been returned to date.

From left, Senior Counsel Paul Muite, Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Paul Melly and Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission Chairman Isaak Hassan, during the commemoration of the Standard Group Press Freedom Day on Friday at Standard Group Centre. [Photo: Tabitha Otwori/Standard]

Speaking on Friday while commemorating the Standard Group Press Freedom Day, Senior Counsel Paul Muite, called for an end to impunity and action against those named in a report, which Parliament adopted in November 2010.

"Until when the truth is established, I will continue to press," said Muite, "The report recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute investigations into the matter but to date nothing has been done."

A parliamentary committee recommended that the "public officers who were in one way or the other responsible for the actions and omissions that led to the raid on the Standard Group, and which resulted in assault of several employees of the Standard Group, as well as malicious damage to property worth millions of shillings, be held individually accountable."

Muited questioned why confiscated KTN equipment had not been returned six years after the illegal raid.

Further, he urged the media house participate in the drafting of media laws.

"Although we have made progress, we are not still out of the woods," Muite added.

Standard Group’s deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Melly said the company was committed to serving the public interest.

He cited integrity, fairness and objectivity to ensure independent and free media as key values that the media house upholds.

Melly said the Standard Group will continue to play its role in informing Kenyans and will continue to report objectively.

"We have produced the best journalists, some are currently working with international media organisations. We are happy to be the premier training ground," he said.

Speaking at the event held at Standard Group Centre, Mombasa Road, the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Isaak Hassan, said as the country prepares to go into elections, there was need for the media to cultivate issue-based politics.

"The media has a role to interrogate whoever is eyeing the top seat. Just like in other countries, the media can arrange for debates where presidential candidates are invited for a face-off," he said.

He said, compared to other countries in Africa, Kenya is far ahead and hence media freedom cannot be taken for granted.

The parliamentary probe report on the raid was tabled in Parliament in September 2007 but it was not adopted until December 2011 following a motion moved by Gitobu Imanyara.

The report said that the role of the officials cited in the course of the inquiry could be reasonably inferred that they supported and condoned the illegal activities of the two mercenaries, and should be prosecuted. It recommended that they should not hold public office.