Kenya denies involvement in coup bid

Press, 13 March 1982, Page 8

Kenya denies involvement in coup bid

NZPA-Reuter Nairobi Kenya has denied fresh charges of involvement in last year’s mercenary-led attempt to topple the Seychelles Government and has challenged President Albert Rene to produce some evidence.

The Government published a statement yesterday accusing Mr Rene of trying to preempt the outcome of a report from a United Nations commission of inquiry on the abortjve coup. The commission was formed after a battle for Seychelles Airport between while mercenaries and local troops last November 25. The statement followed an interview on Wednesday in which Mr Rene was quoted as saying that Kenya's Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Charles Njonjo, and the

police chief. Ben Gethi. were deeply implicated in the plot. Denying any involvement in the affair, the Government's chief secretary, Jeremiah Kiereini. said, “The Kenya Government has nothing to hide in the matter.” In Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, South African armed forces admitted that 11 of the 43 mercenaries facing trial in. connection with the coup attempt were members of one' of the Army's elite units.

But Major Dante Van Der Spuy, commander of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment, told the court on the second day of the trial. “During November, 1981, nor at any time did it come to my notice that these accused were officially ordered by the Department of Defence to be called for service in the Seychelles."